AI summaryⓘ
The authors explain that search engines and information platforms are often blamed for spreading wrong information. Usually, people try to fix this by checking if information is true or false. But the authors argue that just focusing on whether something is true isn't enough to solve the problem of misinformation in these search settings. They suggest that new ways of thinking are needed to handle the challenges of what users find online.
search enginesinformation platformsmisinformationvalidityepistemic challengesfact-checkinginformation environmentonline searchtruth verification
Abstract
Search engines and information platforms are increasingly scrutinized for their role in spreading misinformation. Traditional responses often focus on detecting falsehoods or verifying the ultimate validity of claims. This paper argues that such a validity-centered framing is inadequate for the epistemic challenges of search environments.