Do we have any evidence that it's true? Anecdotally, it seems that the more the internet has expanded our ability to communicate, the more widespread misinformation has gotten.
I see the moral and anti-authoritarian arguments against censorship, but only in the context of accepting the costs. This "have your cake and eat it" argument feels hollow.
I don't think this is the right conclusion. After thinking about it more, it's not like the internet is patient zero for conspiracies and misinformation. It's just that the internet has exposed to the rest of us how common it is for people to hold such beliefs.
> Anecdotally, it seems that the more the internet has expanded our ability to communicate, the more widespread misinformation has gotten.
I completely agree, but why should we assume falsehoods and truth travel at the same rate? History would suggest otherwise.
This slippery slope is fallacious.