MENTAL MODEL · M4142

Information Hazard / Infohazard

BehaviorHigh supportPsychology

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Updated 2026-08-01

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INTRODUCTION

English translation pending.

CORE DEFINITION

Information hazard is a term coined by Nick Bostrom in his paper on the subject and developed in his work on existential risk. It refers to information whose dissemination itself causes harm, independent of how it is used. Bostrom classifies hazards by mechanism: some grant dangerous capabilities, such as synthesis routes for pathogens; some damage the mind, such as certain self-harm memes; some disrupt social coordination, such as information that erodes trust. The key qualification is that the harm arises from the spread of the information itself, not from misuse by a malicious actor.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

- Screen for toxicity: ask whether knowing this information is itself the harm. - Price disclosure: weigh the benefit of sharing against irreversible damage if it spreads. - Tier access: isolate the most dangerous items instead of publishing them for transparency's sake.

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Science and journalism assume that more knowledge improves outcomes, because information helps people act better. Information hazards break that assumption when a mind or a machine converts knowledge directly into harm. A synthesis protocol becomes a weapon once read; a trigger idea spreads by being described; a proof that a coordination problem exists invites exploitation. Because the damage follows from comprehension itself, good intent on the publisher's side changes nothing. The only remaining lever is who is allowed to know, so containment rather than argument becomes the operative response.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

Classify each sensitive item as capability-granting, mind-damaging, or coordination-breaking. 2. Ask whether the harm comes from the information itself or only from misuse. 3. Apply minimum necessary disclosure and need-to-know access controls. 4. Log and justify any decision to publish, and reassess when context changes.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

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Source support: Explicit

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en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_hazardZH · Explicit
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