Technology is growing, and conspiracy theories and misinformation seem to be thriving. Conspiracy theories specifically about technology include popular commercial technologies, such as Amazon Echo and Google Search, as well as nonprofit technologies designed to support health, such as contact tracing apps. These conspiracy beliefs are well known, as is the way technology accelerates the spread of misinformation. However, what characterizes technology conspiracy theories and what drives people to believe them is less well understood. This study, conducted by a team of researchers from the University of Göttingen and other universities, is the first to demonstrate the extent, causes, and consequences of these beliefs. The results were published in the journal Information Systems Research.
In an initial survey of more than 1,000 people in the United States, representative of the general population, the authors found that beliefs in tech conspiracies were surprisingly widespread. According to the data, for six out of ten different tech-related conspiracy theories, at least 20% of respondents were aware of the theory; and for five out of ten of those theories, at least 20% believed in it. For example, 67% of respondents had heard of and 36% agreed with the idea that Amazon Echo smart speakers spy on users even when the device is turned off, in order to manipulate the population.
The researchers then drew on data from a field study and three experiments. In the field study, the research team analyzed the formation of technological conspiratorial beliefs associated with the coronavirus tracing app in Germany. An experiment on a newly introduced smart car assistance technology provided insight into how not only the technology, but also the issuer of the technology, can give rise to technological conspiratorial beliefs. In addition to the prevalence and emergence of these beliefs, the researchers found evidence that technological conspiratorial beliefs have harmful consequences beyond the technology itself. The data indicate that endorsing technological conspiratorial beliefs can trigger a vicious cycle in which individuals develop a harmful “conspiratorial mindset,” increasingly interpreting their environment through the lens of conspiracy theories. This allowed the researchers to provide an initial understanding of which technologies and types make them more likely to become the object of conspiratorial beliefs.
“Our research reveals the alarming extent of technological conspiracy beliefs in society and their devastating consequences,” says Manuel Trenz, professor of interorganizational information systems at the University of Göttingen. “The mindset fueled by such beliefs is associated with a breakdown in social collaboration and constructive political debate, which could affect society’s ability to respond to future crises.”
Simon Trang from the Universities of Göttingen and Paderborn highlights the policy implications of this research: “We hope that these results will raise awareness among decision-makers – whether politicians or technology developers – of the potential risks and long-term consequences.” This research should serve as a springboard for researchers to address a question that has important implications today and in the future.
Original publication: Simon Trang, Tobias Kraemer, Manuel Trenz, Welf H. Weiger “Deep down the rabbit hole: How technology conspiracy beliefs emerge and foster a conspiratorial mindset.” Information Systems Research 2024. Doi: 10.1287/isre.2022.0494
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