Hiding opinions by minimizing disclosed information: an obfuscation-based opinion dynamics model

Area of Science:

• Social dynamics
• Computational social science
• Behavioral economics

Background:

• Traditional opinion dynamics models often equate hiding opinions with silence.
• Silence is not always a feasible strategy for opinion concealment.
• Opinions can be indirectly expressed through observable actions, necessitating more complex strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and formally model the concept of obfuscation in opinion dynamics.
• To investigate the unexplored effects of obfuscation on public opinion formation.
• To analyze how obfuscation, as a strategy to minimize disclosed information, influences collective opinion.

Main Methods:

• Development of a formal opinion dynamics model incorporating obfuscation.
• Utilizing the recently developed Action-Opinion Inference Model as a foundation.
• Simulation of two distinct cases with varying complexity levels to illustrate model behavior.

Main Results:

• Obfuscation presents a more sophisticated method for hiding opinions than mere silence.
• The impact of obfuscation on public opinion is significantly influenced by the nuanced relationship between actions and underlying opinions.
• Simulations demonstrate that the effectiveness of obfuscation varies with the complexity of action-opinion links.

Conclusions:

• Obfuscation is a critical factor in opinion dynamics, particularly when opinions are inferred from actions.
• The relationship between actions and opinions is key to understanding the influence of obfuscation on public opinion.
• Future research should explore the multifaceted nature of obfuscation in diverse social contexts.