Liars

Outline

Liars (2021) examines how societies can respond to lies and misinformation without undermining freedom of speech. Legal scholar Cass R. Sunstein explores why falsehoods spread, when they cause real harm, and how new technologies such as doctored videos make the problem more serious. He argues that most false statements should be answered with more speech, while some harmful lies may justify careful regulation.

• Societies can respond to lies and misinformation without undermining freedom of speech.
• Falsehoods spread for reasons worth understanding, and not every lie causes real harm.
• Doctored videos and other new technologies make the problem of misinformation more serious.
• Most false statements should be answered with more speech rather than suppressed.
• Some harmful lies may justify careful regulation.

Cass R. Sunstein is an American legal scholar and professor at Harvard Law School, and one of the most frequently cited legal thinkers in the United States. He served in the White House as head of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, and his other books include Nudge, written with Richard Thaler.