Unchecked: The architecture of disinformation

Curious Squid

Misinformation and disinformation thrive in today’s technology landscape, and arguably present the greatest threat to modern society. Information architecture – the practice of designing and managing digital spaces – has an opportunity to intervene. This podcast looks at disinformation from an information architecture perspective, and considers ways to expand the practice of IA to address this new reality.  •••  What is Information Architecture? Information architecture is the practice of designing virtual structures – the shape and form of online spaces and digital products. When you click on a navigation menu or follow the steps in a process, you're experiencing the information architecture of a web site or digital product.  •••  What is disinformation? Understanding disinformation is the purpose of this podcast. We are trying to figure out exactly what it is and what it means. If information architecture is the practice of designing virtual spaces, then disinformation is something that can occupy that space to disrupt the user's experience. Alternatively, it is a way of manipulating the space (like flooding it with irrelevant facts) to achieve an end unrelated to the space's original intention.

  1. Episode 14: Disinformation and economic data, with Dr. Elise Gould

    May 30

    Episode 14: Disinformation and economic data, with Dr. Elise Gould

    Send us Fan Mail Synopsis Dr. Elise Gould, senior economist at the Economic Policy Institute, joins Rachel and Dan to pull back the curtain on how economic data is collected, revised, and communicated — and how that process is vulnerable to political manipulation. We talk about the federal statistical agencies that produce employment and wage data, the role of transparency and revision in maintaining trust, and the pressure those institutions are under today. Rachel and Dan close with two lenses: Human vs. System Integrity and Maybe. Interview Dr. Elise Gould — senior economist, Economic Policy InstituteEconomic Policy Institute — nonpartisan think tank focused on employment, wages, and inequalityEPI Microdata — EPI's publicly accessible economic microdata siteState of Working America Data Library — EPI's public database of wages, employment, and inequality dataEPI Data Accountability Dashboard — EPI's tool for tracking parallel measures and monitoring changes to federal dataBureau of Labor Statistics — federal agency that produces jobs and unemployment dataPhilosophy Minis — Jonny Thomson's Instagram account featuring short philosophical vignettes (referenced by Dan in the lenses segment)Lenses Lens 1: Human vs. System Integrity Information systems rely on some combination of built-in mechanisms and individual actors — whistleblowers, researchers, editors, external stakeholders — to maintain the integrity of their data. This lens asks where that responsibility actually lives. What mechanisms are built into the system for detecting anomalies or integrity issues?How much does the system rely on humans to address failures of integrity or reliability?When there are gaps, inconsistencies, or suspicious patterns in the data, whose job is it to surface them?What would it take for an integrity failure to go unnoticed — and how much of that risk has the system actually designed against?Lens 2: Maybe Drawn from the parable of the lost horse, this lens challenges the impulse to frame information as inherently good or bad news. Data systems — like dashboards and reports — routinely signal conclusions for users, even with incomplete context. When presenting data as either good or bad, does the system also present the sufficient context to explain why?How does the system signal urgency or alarm — and how are users empowered to specify the rules of urgency?What tools does the system offer users to reach their own conclusions without pushing them to a predetermined frame? Edited by Jared Landis (https://www.landispodcastediting.com/) _____________________________________________________ Personnel Dan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostMusic Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________ Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design

    1 hr
  2. Episode 13: Disinformation and gun culture, with JJ Janflone

    May 3

    Episode 13: Disinformation and gun culture, with JJ Janflone

    Send us Fan Mail CONTENT WARNING This episode of Unchecked deals with the sensitive topic of gun violence. SYNOPSIS JJ Janflone, who works on culture change and narrative strategy at Brady: United Against Gun Violence, joins Rachel and Dan to unpack the Big Lie at the center of gun violence disinformation. JJ explains how that single falsehood generates cascading misbeliefs — about storage, risk, and identity — and describes Brady's efforts to shift gun culture. Rachel identifies the lens Accidents Happen and Dan suggests the lens Wild Imagination. INTERVIEW Brady: United Against Gun Violence — gun violence prevention organization where JJ works on culture changeThis is Our Lane – Brady initiative amplifying healthcare professionals' voices on gun violenceShow Gun Safety – Brady program to depict gun safety in entertainmentThe Dickey Amendment — 1996 legislation that banned CDC funding for gun violence research for over two decades (rescinded 2019)LENSES Wild Imagination When a core premise goes unchallenged — like the idea that guns make you safer — information systems without guardrails allow users to spin that premise into increasingly untethered conclusions. The result is a cascade of misinformation that distorts risk perception and makes it nearly impossible to reason toward accurate, proportionate responses. Does the system provide any framing or guardrails that help users interpret broad claims responsibly?How does the system help users accurately assess where risk actually lies, rather than where they imagine it to be?When users construct false or exaggerated threat scenarios, how does the system correct or contextualize them?Accidents Happen Once an action is taken in an information system — sharing a post, liking content, amplifying a story — it sends signals that are difficult or impossible to fully reverse. Even well-intentioned interactions can feed an algorithm in ways the user didn't intend, with consequences that outlast the original act. Does the system provide a meaningful undo mechanism, and does undoing an action actually reverse its downstream effects?How does the system handle users who want to signal disagreement with content without inadvertently amplifying it?When users change their minds about information they've already shared or engaged with, how does the system support them in communicating that change?(Show notes drafted by generative AI and edited by a human.) _____________________________________________________ Personnel Dan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostMusic Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________ Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design

    57 min
  3. Episode 12: Disinformation and community moderation, with Karen McGrane

    Mar 31

    Episode 12: Disinformation and community moderation, with Karen McGrane

    Send us Fan Mail Synopsis Karen McGrane joins Rachel and Dan to explain Reddit from the perspective of a moderator. Reddit is the largest message board on the internet, with thousands of “sub-Reddits” – individual communities based on a topic. Karen moderates the community dedicated to UX Design, which gets hundreds of new posts every week. Rachel and Dan then explore two Lenses: Swarm and Curation Escape. Stories "About this Account" on X/Twitter Renee Diresta’s SubstackBig Tobacco Tobacco industry playbook (Wikipedia)Disinformation playbook (Union of Concerned Scientists) Interview with Karen McGrane Karen McGrane/r/UXDesign subreddit Lenses Curation Escape So much of our experience online is curated by algorithms. A set of rules – not chosen by you – governs what bubbles up into your feed. This set of rules is at the heart of most modern information systems, and can be responsible for perpetuating misinformation. They pose a disinformation risk by people who manipulate the algorithm. How does the system allow users to escape the curation?What role does algorithmic curation play in the system’s experience?How does the system allow users to tailor the curation algorithm? Swarm Participants in online spaces can exhibit swarming behavior, gathering and moving as if one. Swarming groups end up performing a variety of functions – both desirable and undesirable – in an online information space. They can enforce social norms, or alienate other participants. Likewise, they can squash misinformation, or cause it to perpetuate. How does the system react to swarm behavior? How does the system benefit from swarm behavior?How might swarming cause harm? Come see us at Information Architecture Conference (IAC26) Register for IACUse discount code unchecked for $50 off base admission_____________________________________________________ Personnel Dan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostMusic Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________ Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design

    52 min
  4. Episode 11: Disinformation and abortion, with Dr. Ushma Upadhyay

    Feb 14

    Episode 11: Disinformation and abortion, with Dr. Ushma Upadhyay

    Send us Fan Mail SYNOPSIS Speaking to Dr. Ushma Upadhyay, Rachel and Dan dig into misinformation about abortion – who gets them, why they get them, and how they get them. You may be surprised by some of the answers. Dr. Upadhyay describes her research around abortion safety and abortion via telehealth. Rachel proposes the lens “Retraction” and Dan leans on an old favorite, “Personas”. STORIES OF DISINFORMATION Y2K hype The end of the world in TimeY2K Panic in Popular MechanicsFraud in Minnesota: A misinformation perfect storm Dave Weigel’s post on BlueSky   INTERVIEW  Dr. Ushma Upadhyay FDA directed to review the safety of mifepristoneMifepristone in the water LENSES ⇒ Persona Everyone makes assumptions about who participates, contributes to, or benefits from a system. Those assumptions are rarely challenged, and therefore become the source of or impetus for misinformation. This lens suggests unpacking assumptions is a crucial step in understanding the system. What are your assumptions about who is engaged with your system?What are your preconceived notions about who is involved?When you use labels to describe your users, does everyone agree on what those labels mean?⇒ Retraction Publishing in formal and professional venues includes the capability to correct or retract information published there. This is a crucial part of the process, as new information can change understanding. Moreover, mistakes and misinformation need to be marked as such. This lens invites you to look at the way in which your system supports retraction. What are the system’s built-in mechanisms that allow users to retract information?How is retracted information treated differently in the system?How does the system invite users to challenge information to kick off a retraction process? CONFERENCE DISCOUNT CODE Join us at the Information Architecture Conference in Philadelphia in April Use discount code UNCHECKED to get $50 the base conference fee _____________________________________________________ Personnel Dan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostMusic Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________ Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design

    1h 1m
  5. Episode 10: Disinformation and nutrition, with Dr. Amelia Finaret

    Jan 9

    Episode 10: Disinformation and nutrition, with Dr. Amelia Finaret

    Send us Fan Mail Synopsis For the 10th episode of Unchecked, Rachel and Dan talk to Dr. Amelia B. Finaret, food economist and clinical dietitian about the state of nutrition misinformation. With the release of the latest dietary guidelines – some of which are not founded on sound nutrition science – we take a look at both the classic and newer myths around food. Dan uses the discussion to arrive at the lens of Making Hot Dogs and Rachel applies Diet Culture to our work as UX designers. Stories Robert Caro on Robert Moses Northern State Parkway (see section on 1929 compromise)AI-Generated Disinformation in Europe Report for October 2025Interview with Amelia Finaret Amelia FinaretDr. Finaret’s book, Food EconomicsMyPlate.gov (today)MyPlate.gov (from Archive.org, at the time of recording)Dietary Guidelines published by US GovernmentHealthy Hunger Free Kids ActWhat to Eat Now, by Marion NestleAcademy of Nutrition and DieteticsAmerican Diabetes Association recipesLenses Diet Culture How does the system send signals about the user's "goodness" based on what they are consuming or acting on?How does the system reward “good” behavior and penalize “bad” behavior? How does the system decide what is good or bad? Who gets to make that decision, whose world view is reflected in that framework?Making Hot Dogs How does the system process original source material? What role does it play in the "supply chain" of information?How recognizable is the original source material in the system’s content?_____________________________________________________ Personnel Dan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostMusic Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________ Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design

    54 min
  6. Episode 9: Disinformation and climate change, with Zanagee Artis

    12/17/2025

    Episode 9: Disinformation and climate change, with Zanagee Artis

    Send us Fan Mail SYNOPSIS Zanagee Artis, a climate advocate and educator with Natural Resources Defense Council, joins Rachel and Dan to talk about disinformation in arctic and coastal drilling. Zanagee describes the challenges of addressing disinformation when the time horizons of climate research spans decades. Inspired by this discussion, Rachel coins the lens of Time Feel. Dan, impressed by efforts to close the physical distance between policymakers and drilling in the arctic, suggests the lens of Distance. STORIES OF DISINFORMATION White House destruction photo Katie Harbath’s SubstackBlack Death poem Centuries of Black Death misinformation started with a poem INTERVIEW WITH ZANAGEE ARTIS Zanagee ArtisA Kids Book About Climate ChangeKimberly Miner’s study on alaskan arctic impactsGwich’in people of AlaskaIñupiat people of AlaskaCoastal Plain Caribou AlaskaTaylor Oil SpillRadioactive waste water from frackingOil and gas sponsoring community and social programs LENSES Distance The gap between a personal context and the context of the information creates an opportunity for misinformation. (e.g. global warming isn't real when it's snowing in my town). How does the system help users bridge the gap between their personal context and other contexts?How is the information contained in the system distanced from the person consuming it? How does the system close the gap?How much does the system expect users to close the gap between themselves and the information?Time Feel In music, time feel is how the musician interprets time while playing. More than rhythm or beat, it’s how the music creates a feeling of time passing.  How does the system treat the passage of time?How does the system handle time horizons and the differing perceptions of speed?How does this thing support or not support the potential variations in time?What role does urgency play in the system?_____________________________________________________ Personnel Dan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostMusic Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________ Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design

    50 min
  7. Episode 8: Disinformation and gun violence, with Nick Suplina

    11/13/2025

    Episode 8: Disinformation and gun violence, with Nick Suplina

    Send us Fan Mail CONTENT WARNING This episode of Unchecked deals with the sensitive topic of gun violence. SYNOPSIS Nick Suplina, Senior VP for Law & Policy at Everytown for Gun Safety joins Rachel and Dan to talk about the long-standing and persistent disinformation campaign by the gun lobby. Nick highlights the main messages and techniques in use, and we explore the challenges of celebrating prevention. Rachel describes the Lens of Despair and Dan digs into the Lens of Status Quo. STORIES OF DISINFORMATION Did moldy bread cause the Salem witch trials? Debunking the moldy bread theory (Salem Witch Museum)Pushing back against disinformation George Stephanopolous cuts off the VP (Rolling Stone)Airports refuse political video at TSA checkpoint (CNN) INTERVIEW WITH NICK SUPLINA Everytown for Gun SafetyAbout Red Flag laws (Everytown)Colorado’s new assault weapons ban (CBS News)2022 Safer Communities Act (Wikipedia) LENSES Lens of Despair How does the system alleviate or exacerbate or manipulate the feeling that nothing can be improved?How does the system create a sense of hope?How does the system intentionally give agency to its users?Lens of Status Quo What role does status quo play in this domain? What is this system’s role relative to the status quo?How does the system discourage users from questioning the status quo? _____________________________________________________ Personnel Dan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostMusic Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________ Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design

    1h 4m
  8. Episode 7: Disinformation and climate culture, with Brandon Schauer

    10/15/2025

    Episode 7: Disinformation and climate culture, with Brandon Schauer

    Send us Fan Mail SYNOPSIS Brandon Schauer from Rare, a conservation nonprofit, talks to Rachel and Dan about ways to modify behavior to help save the planet. Climate change and its solutions are often too big for an individual person to connect with, so Brandon has developed strategies to meet people where they are. These strategies short-circuit climate misinformation altogether. STORIES Banana propaganda Annalee Newitz’s book Stories Are Weapons The 1954 Guatemalan Coup (Wikipedia)NPS, the continuing saga National Park signage encourages the public to help erase negative stories at its sitesNational Parks Are Told to Delete Content That ‘Disparages Americans’This Is What Censorship Looks Like in a National Park: The First Park Sign That Came DownPark Service Is Ordered to Take Down Some Materials on Slavery and TribesTrump moves to scrub national parks sites of signs that cast America in a 'negative light'INTERVIEW Entities responsible for greenhouse gas emissions: By Country; 57 companies responsible for 80% of emissionsBiden cites Will & Grace in endorsement of same-sex marriagePrimetime in a warming worldHyperobjects is a term coined by British philosopher Timothy Morton in their book The Ecological ThoughtLENSES Social Awareness Everyone can be part of a solution to large problems, and the ecosystem can help users understand how they may be connected to others. How does your system help people understand they are not alone?How does your system prioritize meaningful connection over gamified social metrics?Hyperobjects Based on the concept from Timothy Morton, hyperobjects are concepts that are so big they are difficult for people to understand them fully. Information ecosystems may be connected to or related to hyperobjects, introducing specific challenges. How does the structure of your system help users focus on the most relevant part of a large problem space?How does the structure of your system render information at human scale?_____________________________________________________ Personnel Dan Brown, HostRachel Price, HostMusic Turtle Up Fool, by Elliot_____________________________________________________ Unchecked is a production of Curious Squid Curious Squid is a digital design consulting firm specializing in information architecture, user experience, and product design

    56 min
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4.9
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

Misinformation and disinformation thrive in today’s technology landscape, and arguably present the greatest threat to modern society. Information architecture – the practice of designing and managing digital spaces – has an opportunity to intervene. This podcast looks at disinformation from an information architecture perspective, and considers ways to expand the practice of IA to address this new reality.  •••  What is Information Architecture? Information architecture is the practice of designing virtual structures – the shape and form of online spaces and digital products. When you click on a navigation menu or follow the steps in a process, you're experiencing the information architecture of a web site or digital product.  •••  What is disinformation? Understanding disinformation is the purpose of this podcast. We are trying to figure out exactly what it is and what it means. If information architecture is the practice of designing virtual spaces, then disinformation is something that can occupy that space to disrupt the user's experience. Alternatively, it is a way of manipulating the space (like flooding it with irrelevant facts) to achieve an end unrelated to the space's original intention.

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