There is now a metalayer (metaverse?) of information. Content that feeds on other content, putting new distance between what we deal with online and lived reality. The same infrastructure that lets legitimate distant voices reach us also lets sources completely divorced from reality permeate and subvert the trust networks we once reserved for people and institutions close to us. Our trust circles evolved for a world where proximity was a filter. That filter is gone, and hostile or hollow sources can now occupy the same space as a trusted neighbour.

Key Question/s: When trust networks can be invaded by actors detached from any grounded reality, how can civic tech help people re-establish meaningful signals of proximity, accountability, and authenticity, without simply appointing (or becoming) a new gatekeeper?

Alternative title: “Network Subversion and Me”. If you’re familiar with “Cognitive Security”, then you have a basic handle on this. We can look at approaches for strengthening the integrity of tech-moderated trust networks against infiltration while preserving the openness that makes them valuable. Finding a balance between broad connectivity and local or authenticated networks. We can also look at the kind of social geometry our tech fosters. Both the stuff we use. And the stuff we’re building.