Knowledge, Testimony, and Technology

In a world full of information and driven by datasets analyzed and categorized by algorithms, we still crucially rely on the knowledge of others in our day-to-day lives. Human life crucially depends on interpersonal relationships and trust, from banal matters such as dressing appropriately for the weather to complex social situations such as gathering evidence in court cases. Because witness testimony, both in formal and natural contexts, is such an integral part of communication, we must ask ourselves: when is it reasonable to believe another person’s account? Can we depend on the accuracy of the information conveyed to us? And what of the advent of modern technology?

Our lives have become more and more dependent on social interactions that happen outside of environments where we might be able to gather additional information that help us determine whether or not testimony is truthful. If the virtual space is filled with misinformation and “fake news”, (how) can we believe anything we read online? Do we really live in a post-truth society? Or can technological advancements help us, for the first time, to distinguish between what is verifiably true and what is not?