Cover-up
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- | When a [[scandal]] breaks, the discovery of an attempt to '''cover up''' or [[concealment|conceal]] the evidence of wrongdoing is often regarded as even more scandalous than the original deeds. | + | |
+ | A '''cover-up''' is an attempt, whether successful or not, to [[:wikt:conceal|conceal]] evidence of wrongdoing, error, incompetence or other [[embarrassment|embarrassing]] information. In a passive cover-up, information is simply not provided; in an active cover-up, [[deception]] is used. | ||
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+ | The expression is usually applied to people in positions of [[authority]] who [[Abuse of power|abuse power]] to avoid or silence [[criticism]] or to deflect [[guilt (law)|guilt]] of wrongdoing. Perpetrators of a cover-up (initiators or their allies) may be responsible for a misdeed, a breach of trust or duty, or a crime. | ||
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+ | While the terms are often used interchangeably, '''cover-up''' involves withholding incriminatory evidence, while '''[[Whitewash (censorship)|whitewash]]''' involves releasing misleading evidence. See also '''[[misprision]]'''. | ||
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+ | == See also == | ||
+ | * [[Blue Code of Silence]] | ||
+ | * [[Gatekeeper (politics)|Gatekeepers]] | ||
+ | * [[Media manipulation]] | ||
+ | * [[Narcissistic defences]] | ||
+ | * [[Omertà]] | ||
+ | * [[Propaganda]] | ||
+ | * [[Spin (public relations)]] | ||
+ | * [[Whitewash (censorship)]] | ||
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A cover-up is an attempt, whether successful or not, to conceal evidence of wrongdoing, error, incompetence or other embarrassing information. In a passive cover-up, information is simply not provided; in an active cover-up, deception is used.
The expression is usually applied to people in positions of authority who abuse power to avoid or silence criticism or to deflect guilt of wrongdoing. Perpetrators of a cover-up (initiators or their allies) may be responsible for a misdeed, a breach of trust or duty, or a crime.
While the terms are often used interchangeably, cover-up involves withholding incriminatory evidence, while whitewash involves releasing misleading evidence. See also misprision.
See also
- Blue Code of Silence
- Gatekeepers
- Media manipulation
- Narcissistic defences
- Omertà
- Propaganda
- Spin (public relations)
- Whitewash (censorship)
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Cover-up" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.