Lecture by Eliot Higgins: from conspiracy theories to profiting from false information
'The way we consume information has changed dramatically over the past fifteen years. You're no longer just a receiver; you participate, create, and spread information. So why not use that to improve society?'
‘Who here knows someone who believes in conspiracy theories?’ is the first question Eliot Higgins asks the hundreds of people attending his lecture on 6 February in Wijnhaven. The founder of Bellingcat, based in the Netherlands, speaks about ‘information disorder’ and explains in detail what it entails.
But first, the conspiracy theories. Almost everyone in the room knows someone who believes in them. ‘I find that fascinating,’ says Higgins. ‘I get the same answer at every lecture. Why is that? I’ve studied many conspiracy theories—chemical weapons in Syria, MH17. People even claim that I work for the CIA.’
Misinformation, disinformation and malinformation
When it comes to ‘information disorder’, he distinguishes three types of false information. ‘Misinformation’ refers to false or misleading information shared without the intent to cause harm. ‘People simply believe it’s real and don’t check it,’ he explains. ‘Disinformation, on the other hand, is intentionally misleading or false information shared with the intention of causing harm.
He also highlights ‘malinformation’: information based on reality but deliberately used to cause damage. In his lecture, Higgins provides several examples of this.
Shittyfication
Information now comes from all directions. The media and the government act as gatekeepers, shaping public opinion. Or do they? Nowadays, information comes from the internet and from every conceivable source. And that, Higgins argues, creates problems. He refers to this as the ‘shittyfication’ of the internet - using something popular to make money or gain attention. He cites Jackson Hinkle as an example: ‘He doesn’t believe what he says; he only says it for attention.’
Higgins highlights the existence of an alternative media ecosystem wherein the identical information is replicated across various websites, creating the illusion of multiple sources and thereby generating a false sense of credibility. Outlets like SputnikNews and RT, which describe themselves as ‘independent’ and ‘alternative’, contribute to this. According to Higgins, this is a deliberate strategy to reinforce conspiracy theories.
MH17 and Ukraine
Higgins started Bellingcat in 2014, and one of his first major stories was the downing of flight MH17. Thanks to open-source investigation, with a very active Discord channel, it was possible to locate videos prior to the invasion of Ukraine. You could see the positions of the army, and Bellingcat was able to create a map of it. ‘You can see the vehicles getting closer to the Ukrainian border.’ Even three years after the invasion, the map is constantly being updated.
Higgins concludes by hoping that the audience will take action.
Honorary doctorate
Eliot Higgins was visiting the Netherlands, his 'second home', especially for the 450th anniversary of Leiden University. On 7 February, he was awarded an honorary doctorate in Leiden for his defence of democracy and justice.
Lecture Eliot Higgins
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