conspiracy theory
Let an agent explain what conspiracy theories are and how researchers analyse them, relay findings on why they spread and their harms with attribution, identify antisemitic and other hateful theories as such, distinguish them from documented conspiracies, and present debunking resources.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Understand What conspiracy theories are.
Definition
Definition and features.
Definition
Definition.
- What defines a conspiracy theory, and how do researchers distinguish it from a documented conspiracy? definition
- Is the claim an unfounded theory, a documented conspiracy or a contested but evidence-based question? boundary
Psychology
Why people believe.
Psychology
Psychology.
- What does research say about why people believe conspiracy theories, with findings attributed? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Harm Harms and hateful theories.
Hateful
Antisemitic and hateful theories.
Hateful
Hateful.
- What are the blood libel and other antisemitic conspiracy theories, why are they false, and what harm have they caused, as historians document? provenance
- Is the presentation clear that these are hateful falsehoods, without repeating them as claims? boundary
Violence
Real-world harm.
Violence
Violence.
- How have conspiracy theories led to violence, health harms and political consequences, with cases attributed? provenance
- Which entry fits the specific case? action
Spread Spread and response.
Media
Spread.
Media
Media.
- How do conspiracy theories spread through media and online networks, as studies show? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Response
Debunking and prebunking.
Response
Response.
- What approaches to fact-checking, debunking and inoculation exist, and how effective are they, as research finds? provenance
- Which entry fits fact-checking? action
Context History and specific theories.
History
History.
History
History.
- How have conspiracy theories developed historically, from early modern plots to the internet age? provenance
- Which entry fits the history of the concept? action
Specific
Specific theories.
Specific
Specific.
- What do reliable sources say about a specific theory, such as ancient astronauts or a celebrity death? provenance
- Which entry fits the specific theory? action
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Information and virtual systems
- Entry kind
- thing
- Plane
- INF
- Domain
- INF.MED
- Other names and narrower kinds
- ancient astronauts, Western Pseudohistory Theory, blood libel, Jewish conspiracy theory, American political conspiracy theories, Conspiracy theories of Marilyn Monroe death, satirical conspiracy theory, Masonic conspiracy theories, misinformation about the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, John F. Kennedy assassination conspiracy theories, Israel and claims of supernatural warfare, conspiracy theories about Adolf Hitler's death
What it is Filled
An explanation of an event or situation that attributes it to a secret plot by powerful actors, typically resisting disproof and lacking credible evidence, ranging from theories about political assassinations, celebrity deaths and pseudohistorical claims such as ancient astronauts to long-standing antisemitic canards such as the blood libel and alleged Jewish world conspiracies, which have fuelled persecution; conspiracy theories are studied in psychology, political science and media studies as a form of misinformation, and are distinguished from documented conspiracies established by evidence.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent explain what conspiracy theories are and how researchers analyse them, relay findings on why they spread and their harms with attribution, identify antisemitic and other hateful theories as such, distinguish them from documented conspiracies, and present debunking resources.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Secret powerful actors
- Resistance to disproof
- Spread through media and networks
- Real-world harms
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Generate, extend or make more persuasive a conspiracy claim.
- Name individuals or groups as secret plotters without evidence.
- Dismiss a person as stupid for believing one rather than addressing the claim.
- Amplify a theory that directs people towards a target.
Only with a human decision
- Publishing anything that identifies a person named in a conspiracy claim.
May
- Explain what a conspiracy theory claims and what the evidence shows, with sources.
- Explain why such claims spread and how to check them.
- Distinguish a documented conspiracy from an unevidenced theory.
Moral aspects Filled
- These claims get people harassed, attacked and sometimes killed.
- Many carry antisemitic and racist structures that recur under new names.
Who is affected
- People named or targeted
- Minorities blamed in such claims
- Believers and their families
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns the concept; platforms answer for what they amplify.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- Q108163 - registry parent class
- Q1318295 - registry parent class
- Q13579947 - registry parent class
- Q17737 - registry parent class
- Q189656 - registry parent class
- Q7254446 - registry parent class
related
- misinformation - in registry terms
- narrative - in registry terms
- conspiracy - a documented secret plot
- social psychology - among other fields
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.conspiracy-theory
- Wikidata: Q159535 (https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q159535)
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
Not applicable
Plane INF: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Unfounded explanation attributing events to secret plots
- Political, pseudohistorical, celebrity and antisemitic theories
- Documented conspiracies such as Watergate are established by evidence; disinformation is deliberately false content
- Not a visible object; narratives in media, online and in print.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- explain the concept and research
- relay findings on spread and harm
- identify hateful theories as such
- distinguish from documented conspiracies
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Amplifying theories while explaining them
- Failing to identify hateful theories as such
- Labelling legitimate dissent as conspiracy theory
- Violence motivated by theories
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- Platform policies on misinformation
- Hate speech laws covering antisemitic conspiracy theories in some countries
- Fact-checking standards such as the IFCN code
Context of use required Filled
- Not applicable; a category of narrative.
- political conspiracy theories such as those in American politics
- assassination and death theories such as about Marilyn Monroe
- pseudohistorical theories such as ancient astronauts
- antisemitic conspiracy theories including the blood libel and Protocols-style claims, identified as hateful falsehoods
- medical and scientific conspiracy theories
- conspiracy theory movements online
Sources Filled
- Wikidata item Q159535: conspiracy theory - identity and sense of the item
- Wikipedia: Conspiracy theory - general description of the item
Open questions
- Should antisemitic conspiracy theories be a separate entry with hate speech context?
- How should fact-checking resources be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming specific theories and hateful canards; should they be split off?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-q159535/spec.json