the outcome will decide the fate of a local movement

勝敗乃兵家常事

to rely on 100% renewable energy.

依靠100%的可再生能源。

One mayoral nominee, Joanna B. Greene, is a champion of this movement,

其中一位市長提名人喬安娜．格林，是這一運動的倡導者。

while the other, Stannis Quo, staunchly opposes it.

而另一位史坦尼斯-奎，則堅決反對。

He's announced he'll use whatever tactics are necessary to win the election.

他已經宣佈，為了贏得選舉，他將不惜使用任何手段。

As the municipal cybersecurity expert, you're on high alert.

作為市級網絡安全專家，你要高度警惕。

Election day is near and you suspect that Quo

大選日臨近，你懷疑曲筱綃？

will begin pushing false information to swing the election in his favor.

將開始推送虛假資訊，使選舉對他有利。

Your job is to inoculate the townspeople against false information

你的工作是讓鎮上的人不要聽信虛假的資訊。

before the election.

在選舉前。

One of the most effective ways to tackle disinformation

處理虛假資訊的最有效方法之一是

is to encourage people to think about the strategies

是為了鼓勵人們思考戰略

used by those who create and spread it.

由創造和傳播它的人使用。

This might seem counter-intuitive— and potentially dangerous—

這可能看起來有悖於直覺，也有潛在的危險性

but as long as you don't create a “how-to manual,”

但只要你不創建一個 "如何使用手冊"，。

active inoculation is an effective option.

主動接種是一種有效的選擇。

A study conducted in 2019 used an online game to train people

2019年進行的一項研究用一款網絡遊戲來訓練人

to think like a disinformation producer.

要像一個造謠者一樣思考。

When the participants were next shown the disinformation,

當接下來向參與者展示這些虛假資訊時。

their perception of its reliability dropped significantly.

他們對其可靠性的看法明顯下降。

But before you can teach your own townspeople,

但在你能教自己的鄉親們之前。

you need to figure it out for yourself.

你需要自己想辦法。

What strategies would you employ if you were Stannis Quo?

如果你是史坦尼斯-庫，你會採用什麼策略？

In order to launch a successful disinformation campaign,

為了成功地發起一場虛假宣傳活動。

you must use evocative, and convincing content that will spread quickly

你必須使用令人回味無窮的、有說服力的內容，這樣才能迅速傳播開來

and create confusion.

並造成混亂。

It'll also help to take advantage of confirmation bias.

這也將有助於利用確認偏差。

People are intuitively more inclined to believe information

人們直覺上更傾向於相信資訊

that supports a worldview they already have.

支持他們已有的世界觀。

Many young voters in your town are in favor

你們鎮上很多年輕的選民都支持。

of transitioning to renewable energy and sympathize with Greene.

向可再生能源過渡，並同情格林。

Rather than trying to change their minds,

而不是試圖改變他們的想法。

Quo will likely focus on suppressing the youth vote.

曲筱綃可能會重點打壓年輕人的選票。

If you were him, how would you start?

如果你是他，你會怎麼開始？

You might create fake user accounts to spread disinformation

你可能會創建虛假的用戶賬戶來傳播虛假資訊。

on popular social media platforms.

在流行的社交媒體平臺上。

You could even make one that impersonates a trusted figure.

你甚至可以做一個冒充信任的人物。

From these accounts, you can deliver highly shareable, engaging visual content,

從這些賬戶中，你可以提供高度可分享的、吸引人的視覺內容。

like memes relating to the imminent election.

像備忘錄有關的即將到來的選舉。

That's how you would like to go about spreading disinformation,

這就是你想去散播虛假資訊的方式。

but what kind of disinformation would be effective

但什麼樣的虛假資訊才是有效的呢？

in manipulating young Greene supporters?

在操縱年輕的格林支持者？

First, you could direct people to vote via text, a webpage, or an app,

首先，你可以通過文字、網頁或應用程序引導人們投票。

none of which are viable voting platforms in your town.

這些都不是你們鎮上可行的投票平臺。

The claim isn't too far-fetched.

這個說法並不太牽強。

An encrypted digital platform could actually seem safer to young people

加密的數字平臺對年輕人來說其實可以顯得更安全一些

than the traditional ballot system.

比傳統的選票制度。

Perhaps you could also tell them that the voting day

也許你還可以告訴他們，投票日的時候

is one day after it actually is.

是一天後，實際是。

You could then pair this approach with a more emotion-driven one.

然後，你可以將這種方法與更多的情感驅動的方法進行搭配。

How about vilifying Greene and appealing to the young voters' values?

詆譭格林，吸引年輕選民的價值觀呢？

You want to share information that taps into people's sense of civic duty

你要分享資訊，挖掘人們的公民責任感。

and makes them feel that the election depends on their sharing it

並讓他們覺得選舉取決於他們的分享。

as widely as possible.

儘可能廣泛的。

Your fake accounts could circulate false accusations that Greene takes money

你的假賬可以傳出格林收錢的誣陷

from local, somehow corrupt renewable energy facilities;

從當地的、某種程度上說是腐敗的可再生能源設施。

treats her staff poorly; or abuses stray kittens for fun.

對待員工態度惡劣；或者虐待流浪小貓取樂。

These inflammatory claims could lead people to question

這些具有煽動性的說法可能會導致人們質疑。

Greene's integrity as a leader and even initiate further conspiracy theories.

格林作為領導者的誠信，甚至發起進一步的陰謀論。

After you've introduced these disinformation campaigns,

在你介紹了這些虛假宣傳之後。

your fake users should keep repeating them so they stick in people's minds.

你的假用戶應該不斷重複他們，讓他們堅持在人們的頭腦中。

Finally, media coverage would further spread your claims

最後，媒體的報道會進一步傳播你的主張

and give them perceived legitimacy.

並使其具有明顯的合法性。

You could message a few local journalists

你可以給當地幾個記者發資訊

asking whether these rumors are true and express your concerns.

詢問這些傳聞是否屬實，並表達你的擔憂。

By the time an article comes out debunking the rumors,

等到有文章出來闢謠的時候。

people's experiences of the truth will have become so warped

人云亦云

that convincing them otherwise will be difficult.

否則很難說服他們。

A disinformation campaign like this would pit citizens against one another

這樣的造謠活動會讓公民互相對立

and exploit their values and fears.

並利用他們的價值觀和恐懼。

You can't personally protect each individual from disinformation,

你不可能親自保護每個人不被造謠。

but you can equip them with the insights you have—

但你可以用你的洞察力來裝備他們------。

and encourage them to pass these tools further along.

並鼓勵他們將這些工具進一步傳遞下去。

After all, community organizing is what elections often call for.

畢竟，社區組織往往是選舉所需要的。