The deceptive activistIn your action group, is it ever beneficial to lie to other members? When is it wise to lie to authorities? If a member of your group has done something wrong, is it better to be open about it now or keep it hidden in the hope that outsiders will never know? What are the pros and cons of infiltrating opposition groups to collect information about harmful activities? Should we wear masks at rallies? There's lots of research showing that lying is an everyday occurrence in most people's lives, and furthermore that lies can be beneficial in some circumstances. But they can also be very damaging, especially lies by authorities. The Deceptive Activist introduces key ideas about lying and deception and then provides a series of case studies in which activists need to decide what to do. There are no final answers, but it is important to address the questions. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Deception by authorities | 24 |
Detection | 60 |
Ethics and lying | 94 |
Case studies | 109 |
Lessons | 154 |
Common terms and phrases
Abjorensen Abu Ghraib activist group actually asked assess avoid behaviour believe better Black propaganda Brian Martin campaign corporate corruption cover-up damaging deceive deception by authorities depends detecting deception detecting lies discredit effective nonviolent action evidence example exposed F. G. Bailey Facebook fake group false features of effective form of deception Gandhi Greenpeace harm hide honest ICAC incentives individuals infiltrators investigation involving deception journalists Julia Gillard Keeping a secret leaker leaking London lying McDonald’s McNicol methods misleading motive Nazi Nicky Hager official channels opponents organisations participation Paul Ekman people’s Peta Planning an action police political politicians polygraph possible prefiguration propaganda protest radical flank effect scientists secrecy self-deception Sissela Bok Slater social someone story Suyptum T4 programme tactics telephone taps telling the truth thalidomide There’s tion torture trust truth-telling Vellar Wearing masks Whale Oil whistleblowers you’re