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Ai vs AI: Question 5/81

Who profits when disinformation is sold?

 

Ai Weiwei: In instances of information imbalance or the emergence of distorted information, certain individuals stand to gain. Lies and rumors, which manifest under such circumstances, typically benefit those entrenched in power, whether in the short term, on a regional scale, or within specific spheres of influence.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2024: Those who create and disseminate disinformation may profit politically, financially, or socially by manipulating public opinion, creating chaos, or achieving specific goals.

ChatGPT (AI), January 2025: Disinformation is a powerful tool, and many different groups profit from it, depending on their goals. The main beneficiaries include:

  1. Governments and Political Actors
    Authoritarian regimes use disinformation to control narratives, suppress dissent, and manipulate public opinion. Political parties and candidates spread misleading information to gain electoral advantages or discredit opponents. Intelligence agencies sometimes use disinformation for psychological operations (psyops) or to destabilize adversaries.
  2. Media Companies and Clickbait Websites
    Sensationalized fake news attracts clicks, ad revenue, and subscriptions. Some “news” sites exist solely to produce viral misinformation that generates ad revenue.
  3. Social Media Platforms
    Algorithms prioritize engagement, which means controversial, misleading, or emotional content spreads faster. Even when platforms try to combat disinformation, they still profit from increased user activity.
  4. Corporations and Lobbyists
    Some industries fund misleading narratives to protect profits (e.g., climate denial campaigns, pharmaceutical misinformation). PR firms are often hired to discredit competitors or sway public perception.
  5. Extremist Groups and Conspiracy Movements
    Groups pushing disinformation (e.g., anti-vaxxers, flat-earthers) profit through donations, merchandise, and paid speaking events. Disinformation fuels cult-like followings that provide financial support.
  6. Black Markets and Cybercriminals
    Fake news services are for sale on the dark web, with entities paying for propaganda campaigns. Disinformation can be used in pump-and-dump stock schemes, scams, or phishing attacks.

In short, money, power, and influence drive the sale of disinformation, and those who profit often do so at the expense of truth and public trust. 

DeepSeek (AI), January 2025: When disinformation is sold, several entities or individuals may profit, depending on the context and the motivations behind the dissemination of false information. Here are some of the key beneficiaries:

  1. Disinformation Producers: Individuals or organizations that create and sell disinformation content can profit directly. This includes fake news websites, content farms, and social media influencers who generate revenue through clicks, views, and engagement.
  2. Advertisers and Ad Networks: Companies that advertise on platforms hosting disinformation can benefit if the disinformation drives traffic and engagement. Ad networks that serve ads on these platforms also profit from the increased ad impressions and clicks.
  3. Social Media Platforms: Platforms that host disinformation can profit from increased user engagement, which drives ad revenue. The more time users spend on the platform, the more ads they see, and the more money the platform makes.
  4. Political Actors and Governments: Political groups, parties, or governments that use disinformation to influence public opinion, elections, or policy decisions can gain power and control, which can translate into economic and political benefits.
  5. Cybercriminals: Disinformation can be used as a tool for cybercrime, such as phishing scams or fraud. Cybercriminals profit by deceiving individuals into giving up sensitive information or money.
  6. Private Companies: Companies may use disinformation to damage competitors’ reputations or to manipulate markets for financial gain.
  7. Media Outlets: Some media outlets may profit from disinformation by attracting a larger audience, which can lead to higher subscription rates, advertising revenue, and overall market share.
  8. Data Brokers: Companies that collect and sell user data may profit from disinformation campaigns that generate large amounts of data through increased online activity.

It’s important to note that while these entities may profit in the short term, the long-term consequences of disinformation can be detrimental to society, including erosion of trust, polarization, and harm to democratic institutions. Efforts to combat disinformation involve a combination of media literacy education, regulatory measures, and technological solutions to detect and limit the spread of false information.

Who profits when disinformation is sold?’ Edition of 81 from a series of 81 Questions by Ai Weiwei (£500 +VAT). Embossed and hand-signed by the artist. Available exclusively on circa.art

 

To coincide with the exhibition, 81 Questions – a series of 81 hand-signed and embossed screen prints featuring the 81 questions posed by Ai Weiwei – are available exclusively on CIRCA.ART for £500+VAT.

“Each Lego brick pixel represents a person”, says Ai Weiwei, who incorporates the plastic construction toy – a readymade material incorporated into many of his most recent works – into his print design for the first time. The black egalitarian pixel font and embossed baseplate combine technology with artisanal craft to create this thought-provoking and playful reflection on today’s world. Each print in the series of 81 Questions is hand-signed and numbered by the artist in editions of 81.


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Bea: Always the one who sells it or puts it into circulation.


Jacob Canet-Gibson: Those in power.