Abstract:
Disinformation has been part of society since the days of Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese military strategist, who wrote that “all war is deception.” In recent years, technology has fueled an explosion in disinformation, allowing hostile foreign adversaries and political operatives to sow discord in society and undermine public confidence in democratic elections. Now, deepfakes have changed the game, creating images, videos, and audio recordings making it appear that people have said and done things that they have not, creating deception, confusion, and cynicism. Solutions exist on the supply and demand side, from government regulation to public education, if we can overcome the polarization that causes some politicians to value controversies over solutions.

Meet Barbara McQuade:
Barbara McQuade is a professor from practice at the University of Michigan Law School, where she teaches courses in criminal law, criminal procedure, and national security. She is also a legal analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Attack from Within: How Disinformation is Sabotaging America.

From 2010 to 2017, Ms. McQuade served as the U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan. Her office brought cases involving public corruption, terrorism, white collar crime, and civil rights violations, among others. Ms. McQuade was appointed by President Barack Obama, and was the first woman to serve in her position.

Before becoming U.S. Attorney, Ms. McQuade was an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Detroit for 12 years, serving as Deputy Chief of the National Security Unit. Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ms. McQuade practiced law at the firm of Butzel Long in Detroit from 1993 to 1998, and served as a law clerk to Hon. Bernard A. Friedman on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan from 1991 to 1993. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan (LSA ’87 and Law ’91). She and her husband have four children and live in Ann Arbor.