PBS高端访谈:有关美国大选的假新闻

JUDY WOODRUFF: Let's dive deeper into concerns around spreading misinformation, its consequences, and securing our votes. Some of the most pointed¹ attacks during today's Senate hearing included examples of how the leading social media platforms have been used to spread misinformation. William Brangham explores just how that misinformation can be transmitted easily by American voters and influence thinking. Afterwards, he has an interview with one of the top officials from the Department of Homeland Security.

朱迪·伍德乐夫：我们将更深入探讨有关传播错误信息、其后果以及确保民众选票的担忧。今天的参议院听证会上作出了一些攻击，其中最为尖锐的包括对被用来传播错误信息的大型社交媒体平台的攻击。威廉·布兰加姆探究了这种错误信息轻易被美国选民传递并影响民众思维的原因。之后，他对国土安全部一位高级官员进行了采访。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Have you heard that voter fraud is rampant² in the U.S.? Well, it isn't. Or that Bill Gates is going to microchip Americans using the COVID-19 vaccine³? That's also false. Or that President Trump⁴ didn't really have the coronavirus? Wrong. He did. None of these are true, but they have been read and spread by millions, and they represent just drops in a vast ocean of misinformation.

威廉·布兰加姆：选举舞弊很猖獗，你听说了吗？不，这是假的。又或者比尔·盖茨会给使用COVID-19疫苗的美国人植入微芯片？这也是假的。再或者特朗普总统真的没有感染冠状病毒？不对，他真的感染了。这些信息都是错误的，但是这些信息已经被上百万人阅读和传播，它们只是错误信息海洋中的一滴水。

WOMAN: Good morning, everybody. Have a busy day.

女士：大家早上好，今天真是忙碌的一天。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: It's become such a pervasive⁵ problem that a small industry of fact-checkers, like the people here at PolitiFact, is working overtime⁶ to debunk⁷ them.

威廉·布兰加姆：假信息的传播已经如此普遍，以致于像“政治事实”这样专门审核信息真伪的小行业的工作人员不得不加班加点地揭穿它们。

WOMAN: Amy has a good fact-check on whether Biden is a socialist⁸ or supports socialist policies.

女士：艾米对“拜登是社会主义者还是支持社会主义政策”这条新闻进行了很好的核查，威廉。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: All the major social media platforms are trying to flag false or misleading claims posted on their sites. There are online courses teaching citizens how to distinguish truth from fiction.

布兰加姆：所有大型社交媒体平台都在试图标示其网站上发布的虚假或误导性言论，甚至出现了教公民如何辨别真伪的网络课程。

WOMAN: And try to think what your inherent biases⁹ or lenses might be that are causing you to see news in a certain way.

女士：试着想一下，是什么固有的偏见或视角导致你以某种方式看待新闻。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: We sat in on one for senior citizens run by a group called Senior Planet.

威廉·布兰加姆：我们旁听了一个叫做“老年星球”的组织举办的老年人聚会。

WOMAN: So, it really impacts everybody when people disseminate¹⁰ fake news.

女士：所以，当人们传播假新闻时，它真的在影响每一个人。

DANNAGAL YOUNG, University of Delaware: The people who are susceptible¹¹ to misinformation includes anyone who has a preexisting opinion about anything, so anyone.

丹娜格尔·杨，特拉华大学：容易受到假信息影响的人也包括那些对任何事情都有先入之见的人，所以任何人都会被误导。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Dannagal Young of the University of Delaware studies misinformation. She says the pandemic has only made it worse.

威廉·布兰加姆：特拉华大学的丹娜格尔·杨对假信息进行了研究，她说新冠只会使情况变得更糟。

DANNAGAL YOUNG: When you think about this in terms of evolutionary¹² psychology¹³, we are hard-wired for survival, especially when we are under conditions that mimic¹⁴ fear and threat. So, you know if you are encountering a tiger in the jungle or something, you're not going to do a slow pro/con list of the different courses of action that you might take. Instead, you're actually just going to make a decision quickly based on emotions and intuition. And the person who writes the pro/con list will be eaten by the tiger.

丹娜格尔·杨：如果你从进化心理学的角度来思考这个问题，我们天生就有生存的本能，尤其是当我们处在模拟恐惧和威胁的环境中时。所以，你知道，如果你在丛林中遇到一只老虎或其他什么，你不会对你可能采取的不同行动方案做一个缓慢的赞成或反对清单。相反，你实际上只是基于情绪和直觉迅速做出决定，而写赞成或反对清单的人会被老虎吃掉。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Do you suspect that there's some foul¹⁵ play going on there? On the issue of the pandemic, retired¹⁶ veteran Kell Bales from Wisconsin has real questions about whether the official coronavirus death toll¹⁷ is accurate.

威廉·布兰加姆：你怀疑那里在上演犯规事件吗？在新冠的问题上，来自威斯康辛州的退休老兵凯尔·贝尔斯对官方报道的新冠病毒的死亡人数表示怀疑。

KELL BALES, Wisconsin: I feel strongly that there's a lot of political motivation behind a lot of these kind of numbers being pushed out there.

凯尔·贝尔斯，威斯康辛州：我有很强的直觉，这个巨大的数字背后绝对有很多政治动机。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Bales is an ordained¹⁸ pastor¹⁹ and a supporter of President Trump. In his media ecosystem²⁰, which is largely conservative voices, anything but a Trump win would be evidence of foul play.

威廉·布兰加姆：贝尔斯是一名圣职牧师，也是特朗普总统的支持者。在特朗普的媒体生态系统(基本上都是保守派的声音)中，除了特朗普获胜以外，任何事情都将是犯规行为的证据。

KELL BALES: If Biden were to win the presidency²¹, seems to be clear, pretty clear evidence of fraud. We're all skewed, right My particular Facebook feed is--it's blown up with conservative, with like-minded individuals. We're all going to do that. We're going to surround ourselves with circles of like believers, like thinkers.

凯尔·贝尔斯：如果拜登赢得总统大选，那这里面肯定有耍手段的证据。我们都是偏执狂，对吧？我在脸书上的动态是——它被保守派和志同道合的人放大了，我们都会这样做，我们将被一群信仰者和思考者包围。

ARLENE LEHEW, Florida: I don't listen to any regular TV news, because it's not telling everything out there.

阿琳·勒休，佛罗里达州：我不会听任何常见的电视新闻，因为它们不会告诉你背后隐藏的真相。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Arlene Lehew lives in The Villages, in Florida. It's a large retirement²² community. She's a grandmother and enjoys riding motorcycles.

威廉·布兰加姆：阿琳·勒休住在佛罗里达的村庄里，那是一个很大的退休社区。她是一位祖母，喜欢骑摩托车。

ARLENE LEHEW: I go online to Newsmax, Parler. I follow Dan Bongino.

阿琳·勒休：我会在Newsmax、Parler上看新闻。我关注了丹·邦吉诺。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: So those are all fairly, what people would argue are conservative news sites, or from a right perspective.

威廉·布兰格姆：所以这些网站是公正的，人们会认为它们是保守的新闻网站，或者是从正确的角度来评论的网站。

ARLENE LEHEW: Yes, I don't agree with that. I just feel it's truthful²³. I don't--I don't know if it's conservative or not. I think people that are on the Democratic side--and I used to be a Democrat²⁴. So, people that are on the Democratic side don't really want to hear the truth sometimes.

阿琳·勒休：嗯，我不同意这个说法，我只是觉得它们讲的是真的，我不知道它们是不是保守的。我觉得那些站在民主党一边的人——我曾经是一个民主党人。所以，支持民主党的人有时候并不想听到真相。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Misinformation is nothing new, of course. Abe Lincoln back there, as with every other president, has been tarred with all sorts of lies and untruths. The difference is, is that, back then, the misinformation could only travel as fast as the railroads could take it. Nowadays, all you need is a few seconds, and this, and it's everywhere. Kell Bales shares posts to his Facebook page, like this video of President Trump falsely alleging²⁵ that there's widespread fraud with mail-in ballots²⁷.

威廉·布兰加姆：当然，假信息并不是什么新鲜事。和其他总统一样，林肯也被各种各样的谎言所玷污。不同的是，那个时候假信息只能以铁路所能承载的速度传播。然而现在，信息传播只需几秒钟的时间，所以假信息无处不在。凯尔·贝尔斯在他的脸书页面上分享了这段视频，视频中特朗普总统错误地宣称邮寄选票存在广泛的欺诈行为。

DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States: This election will be the most rigged election in history.

唐纳德·特朗普，美国总统：这次选举将是历史上最受操纵的一次选举。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: When you look at all these organizations that say that there might be incredibly rare instances of people casting votes illegally, but it's 0.00000-something percent of votes cast, that doesn't give you any comfort

威廉·布兰加姆：当你看到所有这些组织说非法投票的情况可能非常罕见，但这是百分之0.00000的选票，这有没有给你一些安慰？

KELL BALES: Again, if we look at the numbers, if that's truly the number out there--I will have to, again, do my own research--I mean, I'm sure there are independent organizations out there doing the research. And that's great. I applaud them for it. But, ultimately, again, it's that--my personal gut-check.

凯尔·贝尔斯：我们再看看这个数字，如果这个数字是真的，我将不得不，再次，做我自己的研究，我的意思是，我相信有独立的组织在做这些研究。它们很棒，我为它们鼓掌。但是归根结底这是我个人的勇气。

ARLENE LEHEW: They found a lot of ballots like in the ocean and trunks and garbage cans. Dead people are getting ballots. Animals are getting ballots. My friend got one from a dog down the street. His dog's name is Charlie. He got a ballot²⁶.

阿琳·勒休：他们在海里、大箱子和垃圾桶里发现了很多选票，死人也拿到了选票，动物也拿到了选票，我的一个朋友从大街上的一只狗那里拿到一张选票，他的狗叫查理，查理也有一张选票。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: His dog was mailed a ballot

威廉·布兰加姆：他的狗收到了一张选票？

ARLENE LEHEW: Yes. Well, his name's Charlie, the dog. So, it was Charlie whatever their last name is, and he got a ballot.

阿琳·勒休：是的，那只狗叫查理。所以只要姓查理，不管你的名字是什么都能拿到选票。

WILLIAM BRANGHAM: It may sound preposterous²⁸. And, of course, pets can't vote. But, often, misinformation starts with a kernel²⁹ of truth. One voting group did mistakenly mail a registration³⁰ form to a deceased cat in Atlanta. But Dannagal Young says fact-checking alone isn't likely to address this ocean of misinformation.

威廉·布兰加姆：听起来可能很荒谬，当然，宠物是不能投票的。但是，假信息往往始于真相的核心。在亚特兰大，有一个投票小组把登记表错寄给了一只死去的猫。但丹那加尔·杨说，单靠事实核查不太可能解决这么多的假信息。

DANNAGAL YOUNG: If you can connect on the very needs and desires that are driving people to hold these beliefs in the first place, right, create those connections, that's where we create an inroad. It's hard, because we're asking you to have empathy for individuals who might be holding beliefs that could undermine your own freedom or undermine certain aspects of social justice. But this--if the goal is to correct misperceptions and--then those relationships have to come first.

丹那加尔·杨：如果你能将驱使人们持有这些信念的需求和欲望联系起来，那么就能建立这些联系，我们就能从这里取得进展。这很难，因为我们要求你对那些持有可能会破坏你的自由或社会公正的信念的人保持同理心。但是，如果目标是纠正误解，那么就必须首先考虑这些关系。

1 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

2 rampant   

adj.(植物)蔓生的；狂暴的，无约束的

参考例句：

• Sickness was rampant in the area.该地区疾病蔓延。
• You cannot allow children to rampant through the museum.你不能任由小孩子在博物馆里乱跑。

3 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 pervasive   

adj.普遍的；遍布的，(到处)弥漫的；渗透性的

参考例句：

• It is the most pervasive compound on earth.它是地球上最普遍的化合物。
• The adverse health effects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.汽车尾气对人类健康所构成的有害影响是普遍的，并且难以估算。

6 overtime   

adj.超时的，加班的；adv.加班地

参考例句：

• They are working overtime to finish the work.为了完成任务他们正在加班加点地工作。
• He was paid for the overtime he worked.他领到了加班费。

7 debunk   

v.揭穿真相，暴露

参考例句：

• let's debunk some of the most common falsehoods.让我们来揭穿一些最常见的谬误吧。
• Sequences of maps can also debunk misconceptions.一系列的地图，也有助于厘清错误概念。

8 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

9 biases   

偏见( bias的名词复数 )； 偏爱； 特殊能力； 斜纹

参考例句：

• Stereotypes represent designer or researcher biases and assumptions, rather than factual data. 它代表设计师或者研究者的偏见和假设，而不是实际的数据。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• The net effect of biases on international comparisons is easily summarized. 偏差对国际比较的基本影响容易概括。

10 disseminate   

v.散布；传播

参考例句：

• We should disseminate science and promote the scientific spirit.普及科学知识，弘扬科学精神。
• We sincerely welcome all countries to disseminate their languages in China.我们真诚地欢迎世界各国来华推广本国语言。

11 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

12 evolutionary   

adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的

参考例句：

• Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
• These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。

13 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

14 mimic   

v.模仿，戏弄；n.模仿他人言行的人

参考例句：

• A parrot can mimic a person's voice.鹦鹉能学人的声音。
• He used to mimic speech peculiarities of another.他过去总是模仿别人讲话的特点。

15 foul   

adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规

参考例句：

• Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
• What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

16 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

17 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

18 ordained   

v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定

参考例句：

• He was ordained in 1984. 他在一九八四年被任命为牧师。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He was ordained priest. 他被任命为牧师。 来自辞典例句

19 pastor   

n.牧师，牧人

参考例句：

• He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
• We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。

20 ecosystem   

n.生态系统

参考例句：

• This destroyed the ecosystem of the island.这样破坏了岛上的生态系统。
• We all have an interest in maintaining the integrity of the ecosystem.维持生态系统的完整是我们共同的利益。

21 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

22 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

23 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。

24 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

25 alleging   

断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging he'd evaded his taxes. 由于报上一篇文章声称他曾逃税，他的名誉受到损害。
• This our Peeress declined as unnecessary, alleging that her cousin Thornhill's recommendation would be sufficient. 那位贵人不肯，还说不必，只要有她老表唐希尔保荐就够了。

26 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

27 ballots   

n.投票表决( ballot的名词复数 )；选举；选票；投票总数v.（使）投票表决( ballot的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• They're counting the ballots. 他们正在计算选票。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The news of rigged ballots has rubbed off much of the shine of their election victory. 他们操纵选票的消息使他们在选举中获得的胜利大为减色。 来自《简明英汉词典》

28 preposterous   

adj.荒谬的，可笑的

参考例句：

• The whole idea was preposterous.整个想法都荒唐透顶。
• It would be preposterous to shovel coal with a teaspoon.用茶匙铲煤是荒谬的。

29 kernel   

n.(果实的)核，仁；(问题)的中心，核心

参考例句：

• The kernel of his problem is lack of money.他的问题的核心是缺钱。
• The nutshell includes the kernel.果壳裹住果仁。

30 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？