Estonian writer: Lying now permeates nearly every part of society

Estonian public broadcaster ERR News has republished an essay by journalist Tiit Hennoste, originally written for Sirp magazine, in which he argues that lying has become deeply embedded across nearly every sphere of society, from the legal system to science.

Hennoste notes that a well-known defense attorney has publicly admitted to lying both to journalists and in court, and observes that even prosecutors' offices, once assumed to be trustworthy, have recently been linked to misleading statements. In politics, he points to Estonian politicians as well as US President Donald Trump as examples of leaders who lie without hesitation.

From the church to science

The essay also touches on religion, recalling historical cases where relics attributed to a single saint were kept in multiple churches at once, and turns to journalism and advertising, which the author describes as factories of "half-lies" and "full lies" respectively. Even sport, where results should be measurable and objective, is not immune — Hennoste cites doping and cheating schemes uncovered in women's cycling. In science, despite safeguards such as transparency and peer review, cases of fabricated research and dissertations have surfaced even in highly regarded journals.

Social media and artificial intelligence

The author argues that social media has made lying global, giving ordinary people the ability to appear wealthier, happier or more attractive to millions of viewers. He expresses particular concern about artificial intelligence, which he says "lies with complete abandon" in what is euphemistically called "hallucinating." He notes that university students are already telling media outlets how AI has helped them complete academic work faster.

Hennoste concludes that the roots of pervasive lying lie not primarily in the Soviet past, but in enduring human traits — vanity, envy, desire for fame, convenience, money and power — which cannot be eliminated.