AUTHOR: Daniel Mackisack
In an age where misinformation and active disinformation is undermining already fragile public trust in institutions, local governments can sometimes seem like the last bastion of trust in politics.
But that can also mean they get overlooked when it comes to threats. They feel safer. But sometimes when things are shaky, your greatest source of stability can be your greatest vulnerability.
As we’ve seen with high profile examples in both the US and Europe, small city, regional and municipal governments can suddenly find themselves in the cross-hairs. And that impact can dramatically affect not only public trust, but basic government and civil operations.
One of the most notable recent examples comes from the US, where the city of Springfield became the focal point of a nationwide disinformation campaign that got international attention.
City officials were contacted for clarification during a live debate and the answer made them the target of extremist supporters of Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Schools, hospitals and municipal buildings were threatened with bombs. Journalists, political operatives and social media influencers flocked to the town. And even when the root of the rumour that started it all was unearthed, it was too late to effectively put out the fire.
While a much larger political body – like a state, national or federal level government department, or even a political party – might have the resources and capacity to put up a fight, smaller governments and municipalities can be rapidly overwhelmed.
Here at the Innovation in Politics Institute we’ve been thinking recently about what we can do to help. And we’ve got the beginnings of an idea.
What if there was a resource (or collection of resources) to help small governments effectively nip a disinformation campaign in the bud?
A disinformation strategy, ready to execute.
Most buildings have regular fire drills. And many government agencies and departments also practice crisis drills of other varieties. So what might a disinformation crisis kit look like?
Before we get to that however, we want to find out more about the problem. Not every example hits the international media. The impact of disinformation on the operations of local government and political leadership can often go un or under-unreported.
As a result, that bulwark of political trust can be eroded in the shade – the damage going unnoticed while we continue to take it for granted.
That’s why we want to talk to you.
Whether you work in local government or civil society or have experienced it as a member of the public. We want to understand how disinformation has impacted you.
What happened? Where did it come from? How did it spread? What change did it make to government operations and the relationship with the public? And what, if anything, were you able to do to mitigate it?
If you have a story to tell, get in touch!
Perhaps you have experience that can be learned from and advice that can be shared.
With so much riding on the trust relationship between citizens and public institutions, it’s not enough to just focus on the big stuff. Trust starts small.
And so too can solutions.
