The Power and Peril of Information: When Knowing Too Much Can Harm

Information is power only if you can take action with it. Then, and only then, does it represent knowledge and, consequently, power.
Daniel Burrus

Image designed on POE AI (https://poe.com/s/WQclCAM06HvBdQEMtvfD)

Sometimes we scream at our leaders for not being transparent enough with the information they possess, but we fail to understand that information is power, and once anyone is in possession of that power, they can do and undo with such information. Before I dive deeper into today's topic, I would like to ask us just one simple question: "Are there any pieces of information you have in your possession that you can never tell anyone or a particular person because you believe telling them will do them more harm than good?"

I know that the government can be selfish sometimes, and they do things to their own benefit—things that don't benefit the common man—but there are times we need to look at the bigger picture here. The people in power are not just in control of a particular part of the country; they are responsible for every citizen of the country. There is some information that will go out that will turn the entire country into a state of panic, while such an issue can be resolved without getting the people involved. I am not trying to support the government by withholding information, as a wise man once said.

We have an opportunity for everyone in the world to have access to all the world's information. This has never before been possible. Why is ubiquitous information so profound? It's a tremendous equalizer. Information is power.
Eric Schmidt

I will share a real-life story that happened in my country so you can know why sometimes the holding of information is powerful. But before I continue, I would like to welcome you to my blog. _{My name is Fashtioluwa, the one known as the alien of the hive, the man from Mars.}

The case of the people of Modakeke and the people of Ife. These two communities are known to hate each other; they fight over little things. There was a particular year when the fight resulted in bloodshed; people died, but no one knows who died or how it happened. The truth about the matter is that some youth of Modakeke went into the Ife community and made a claim on a particular piece of land. The people of Ife refused to start any development on that land, and a fight broke out. The fight was so serious that it led to the deaths of some youth.

The information on the news was that the chief of each community had a dispute about a piece of land, but the government intervened to settle the dispute. The dispute led to some injuries among the youth, and the issue has now been settled.

That was how the case was resolved. One thing is that the chiefs of these communities did a poor job of controlling the youth and making them know the boundaries of each land since they both share a border. Another thing is that even the people of Modakeke and Ife who leave for other states can start a rukus based on the information if they know something devastating has happened. Another thing is that the dispute was solved, but the necessary information was passed. How did I get to know this information? I have a friend who lives in Modakeke; he was the one who told me everything that happened.

Sometimes, we need to be careful of the information we release to the public, even as individuals. If there is a need for people to know some information, even if it is going to be devastating, I am sure such information would be passed. We have so many of them on the internet, and we have managed to survive while there is some information that would have a long-lasting negative impact.

This is why I believe it is okay for the government to withhold necessary information that can cause the country to be in a state of panic. Thanks for reading.