Epistemic Bubbles (newsletter July 19, 2022)

Epistemic bubbles function like echo chambers; however, instead of strengthening opinions, they only allow certain opinions in. As politicians often state, “they control the narrative.”

In 2008 Georgia (a former member of the U.S.S.R.) experienced a lot of political tension with Russia, and both began placing additional military forces along their border. Then, one morning, shooting started, and Russian tanks rolled into Georgian territory. Simultaneously, a massive wave of hacker attacks bombarded the Georgian communication networks and television stations, shutting down all internal communications and preventing Georgia from appealing to western allies for help.

Russia continued to produce news and television in Georgia and globally. They told a story that Georgian soldiers started firing on their own people and that Russia had sent troops in on a peacekeeping mission.

Russia turned the entire world into an epistemic bubble that would only hear the Russian side of the story and explanation of events.

After two days, the hack attack stopped, and Georgia could finally communicate again. They appealed to their western allies. But those allies had only heard the Russian side of events for two days. The narrative was already in place. Georgia was told an investigation was needed before any intervention could take place.

To this day, Russian troops occupy 20% of Georgia. They claim to be protecting the Georgian people.