Sunstein co-authored a 2008 paper with Adrian Vermeule , titled " Conspiracy Theories , " dealing with the risks and possible government responses to conspiracy theories resulting from " cascades " of faulty information within groups that may ultimately lead to violence . In this article they wrote , " The existence of both domestic and foreign conspiracy theories , we suggest , is no trivial matter , posing real risks to the government 's antiterrorism policies , whatever the latter may be . " They go on to propose that , " the best response consists in cognitive infiltration of extremist groups " , where they suggest , among other tactics , " Government agents ( and their allies ) might enter chat rooms , online social networks , or even real-space groups and attempt to undermine percolating conspiracy theories by raising doubts about their factual premises , causal logic or implications for political action . " They refer , several times , to groups that promote the view that the US Government was responsible or complicit in the September 11 attacks as " extremist groups . " The authors declare that there are five hypothetical responses a government can take toward conspiracy theories : " We can readily imagine a series of possible responses . ( 1 ) Government might ban conspiracy theorizing . ( 2 ) Government might impose some kind of tax , financial or otherwise , on those who disseminate such theories . ( 3 ) Government might itself engage in counterspeech , marshaling arguments to discredit conspiracy theories . ( 4 ) Government might formally hire credible private parties to engage in counterspeech . ( 5 ) Government might engage in informal communication with such parties , encouraging them to help . " However , the authors advocate that each " instrument has a distinctive set of potential effects , or costs and benefits , and each will have a place under imaginable conditions . However , our main policy idea is that government should engage in cognitive infiltration of the groups that produce conspiracy theories , which involves a mix of ( 3 ) , ( 4 ) and ( 5 ) . " Sunstein and Vermeule also analyze the practice of recruiting " nongovernmental officials " ; they suggest that " government can supply these independent experts with information and perhaps prod them into action from behind the scenes , " further warning that " too close a connection will be self-defeating if it is exposed . " Sunstein and Vermeule argue that the practice of enlisting non-government officials , " might ensure that credible independent experts offer the rebuttal , rather than government officials themselves . There is a tradeoff between credibility and control , however . The price of credibility is that government can not be seen to control the independent experts . " This position has been criticized by some commentators who argue that it would violate prohibitions on government propaganda aimed at domestic citizens . Sunstein and Vermeule 's proposed infiltrations have also been met by sharply critical scholarly critiques
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Cass Sunstein