The Download: a censorship conspiracy theory and the first virus created by AI
MIT Technology Review explores the origins of the 'censorship-industrial complex' conspiracy theory and its influence on the current US administration. Additionally, the article reports on scientists using AI to design 16 novel viruses from scratch.
Why it matters
The rise of political conspiracy theories impacts government policy, while AI-driven biological design presents both medical potential and significant security risks.
Plus: AI has designed new viruses from scratch for the first time.
This is today's edition of The Download , our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology.
For years, narratives about a “censorship-industrial complex” spread in right-wing circles. The theory claimed that, under the guise of combating disinformation, a sprawling constellation of government agencies, academics, civil society groups, and Big Tech platforms was suppressing conservative and populist speech online.
What began as a relatively niche conspiracy theory from the far right was able to—and continues to—influence a wide range of actions by the second Trump administration. In myriad ways, the idea of the censorship-industrial complex, or CIC, explains the logic behind how the administration operates both at home and internationally.
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