# **Epistemic Corruption**: The foundations of Corruption are built upon the corruption of shared knowledge and the erosion of epistemic trust through institutional misinformation and the flooding of information space with noise and confusion to induce apathy and moral disengagement. **[[1.1.0) Moral Disengagement]]:** The cognitive process of justifying dishonest or harmful behavior to oneself. This is the "slippery slope" where the deceiver neutralizes their own conscience, deceiving themselves into believing that immoral actions can be justified. Corruption of the Truth or the Facts is spread through either **Misinformation** or **Disinformation**, and the key differentiator is **intent**. **[[1.2.0) Disinformation]]:** False or inaccurate information that is **deliberately created and spread with the intent to deceive, mislead, or achieve a strategic goal.** The person creating or spreading it knows it is false. **[[1.3.0) Misinformation]]:** False or inaccurate information that is spread **without malicious intent.** The person sharing it does not know it is false. They may be mistaken, misinformed themselves, or unaware they are sharing a falsehood. ### Defining [[1.2.0) Disinformation|Disinformation]] as the Foundation of Corruption: Deception is almost exclusively aligned with **[[1.2.0) Disinformation|Disinformation]]**, not Misinformation. **Deception is the act of causing someone to accept as true or valid what is false or invalid.[](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deception) ; it is the deliberate act of twisting, concealing, or fabricating reality to create a false belief in another agent, thereby inducing them to act in a way that benefits the deceiver and harms the deceived or a third party.** **Engaging in deceptive practices in order to manipulate others, and to conceal or twist the truth is often the foundation of Corruption.** **Why is Deception foundational to Corruption?:** Every act of corruption requires a veil. It cannot survive in full sunlight because it is, by definition, an abuse of a trusted power for illegitimate gain. Therefore, it must be hidden. This hiding is an act of deception. Without deception, corruption would be a naked act of theft or force, instantly recognizable and punishable. Deception provides the disguise that allows corruption to persist and metastasize within a system. It is the enabling strategy that makes systemic corruption possible. ##### This is most visible in the **[[1.4.0) Biased Reporting & Propaganda|Biased Reporting & Propaganda]]** observed in Corporate Media. ## Deception - Wikipedia Definition <iframe src="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deception"height="650" width="650"></iframe> # <iframe src="https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Communication/Interpersonal_Communication/Interpersonal_Communication%3A_Context_and_Connection-OERI/11%3A_Dark_Side_of_Communication/11.02%3A_Deception_and_Gaslighting"height="650" width="650"></iframe>