Introduction Markets are not only places where goods and services are exchanged. They are also spaces where trust, reputation, and information play an important role. In many economic situations, customers do not have complete knowledge about the true quality of what they are buying. A student may not fully know the quality of an educational program before enrolling. A patient may not fully understand the quality of a medical service before receiving treatment. A customer may

In the modern economy, information is not only a tool for communication. It is also a form of capital. Companies, consumers, investors, regulators, and communities make daily decisions based on the information they receive. When information is clear, accurate, and trusted, markets can function with more confidence. When information becomes confused, manipulated, or false, the economic environment becomes less stable. The idea often called the “firehose of falsehood” describes