{"id":3102,"date":"2026-01-21T20:44:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T20:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/?p=3102"},"modified":"2026-01-21T21:23:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T21:23:53","slug":"the-9-laws-of-information","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/the-9-laws-of-information\/","title":{"rendered":"The 9 Laws of Information"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A recent article by the greatly appreciated <a href=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@felix-pappe\/about\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/medium.com\/@felix-pappe\/about\">Felix Pappe<\/a> summed up the original concept of Moody &amp; Walsh\u2019s 7 Laws of Information very well:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Information is unlike any other resource humanity has ever known: You can give it away and still keep it. You can use it endlessly without wearing it out. And yet, its value depends entirely on how, when, and why you use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike traditional physical resources, information is a non-rivalrous and non-excludable good (at least in its pure form), which presents distinct challenges and opportunities in economics, law, and society. The characteristics of information are key to understanding the modern &#8220;information age&#8221;:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Non-Rivalrous: As you noted, one person using information does not prevent another from using the exact same information simultaneously. Sharing an idea does not diminish the original holder&#8217;s possession of it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Durable and Reusable: Information does not &#8220;wear out&#8221; through use. A mathematical formula, once established, can be applied an infinite number of times without losing its validity or potency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Contextual Value: Its value is indeed highly subjective and dependent on context. Timely, relevant information (e.g., a stock tip moments before a market shift, or a medical diagnosis using current research) is invaluable, while the same information years later may be worthless.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In essence, Moody &amp; Walsh provided a foundational framework to recognize information&#8217;s distinct nature and measure its financial and strategic importance, helping managers justify IT investments and leverage data better.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is fascinating to look at the original Moody &amp; Walsh laws today. They were written in 1999, at the dawn of the internet age, primarily focusing on information as a commodity. In the 25 years since, we have moved into the eras of Big Data, Social Media, and now Generative AI. As we have advanced from &#8220;managing&#8221; information to &#8220;living&#8221; within it, I do believe that we should think about expanding the original concept to better reflect our modern reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For completeness, let\u2019s first have a quick look at the original 7 Laws of Information:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Law 1 &#8211; Information is infinitely shareable<\/strong> : It can be shared among multiple parties without loss of value to each.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Law 2 &#8211; The value of information increases with use<\/strong> : Information becomes more valuable the more it is used and applied.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Law 3 &#8211; Information is perishable<\/strong> : Its value depreciates over time; outdated information loses relevance and utility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Law 4 &#8211; The value of information increases with accuracy<\/strong> : More accurate information is more valuable for decision-making and operations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Law 5 &#8211; The value of information increases when combined with other info<\/strong> : Integrating information with other sources can create new insights and greater value.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Law 6 &#8211; More information is not necessarily better<\/strong> : Excess information can lead to overload and reduce effectiveness; quality over quantity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Law 7 &#8211; Information is not depletable<\/strong> : Using information does not diminish its availability; it can be reused indefinitely.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I do believe that we can by now add 1 or 2 additional laws:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Law 8: Information changes the system that observes it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the modern world, information is not a passive resource. The moment a piece of information (like a stock price, a viral trend, or a political poll) is shared, it changes the behavior of the people who receive it, which in turn also changes the information itself. On platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, or YouTube the information you see is a reflection of your past behavior. The Algorithms create a constant feedback loop, potentially making information exponentially more powerful: viral content can shape public opinion and even policy, as collective responses prompt further waves of information and action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This dynamic means that information is both shaped by and a shaper of the systems in which it circulates, making every interaction part of a larger, evolving cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Law 9: Information\u2019s Accessibility Shapes Its Power<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The value and impact of information depend directly on who can access it and how easily this is possible. Although at first glance, this law may seem merely an extension of Law 2 (The value of information increases with use), Law 9 goes a step further: it places the focus on the question of who can use information and how easy access is. Not every piece of information that is theoretically valuable actually unfolds its impact. Often, it is accessibility that ultimately determines whether and how information can be utilized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Law 9 makes it clear that accessibility can both amplify and diminish the potential of information, thereby directly complementing the proposed Law 8. In the digital age, with barriers to access (e.g. paywalls, the digital divide) and algorithmic gatekeepers (e.g. filter bubbles, search engine bias), it becomes clear that not everyone who might be interested in information has the same chances of finding or using relevant information. Law 9 addresses this new reality and emphasizes that accessibility has become an independent factor of power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we stand at the threshold of an age where artificial intelligence generates content, algorithms curate reality, and information ecosystems influence human behavior in real-time, the proposed Laws 8 and 9 represent not merely additions to a theoretical framework, but essential updates for navigating our information-saturated world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moody and Walsh\u2019s original framework requires this expansion to describe a new paradigm for information management: one that no longer views information as something we possess and deploy, but as something we inhabit and co-create. As we advance further into the age of generative AI and algorithmic mediation, it becomes increasingly important to understand these dynamics not just academically, but in a deeply practical sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Today the boundaries between information creator, curator, and consumer have blurred beyond recognition. In this new landscape, these nine laws together provide not just a framework for understanding information, but a compass for navigating the complex ecosystem we have created and that continues to create us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The question is no longer just how to manage information, but how to live wisely within it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Information behaves fundamentally differently from traditional resources: its value, impact, and role are constantly evolving. Building on Moody &#038; Walsh\u2019s classic \u201c7 Laws of Information\u201d, I propose two new laws that reflect our algorithm-driven, AI-powered reality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3105,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"Beyond the 7 Laws of Information: A Modern Information Framework","_seopress_titles_desc":"Are Moody & Walsh\u2019s 7 Laws enough? I propose Law 8 & 9 to update the framework for the AI age, focusing on algorithmic impact and access power.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[120],"tags":[140,139,136],"class_list":["post-3102","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-culture","tag-felix-pappe","tag-information-society","tag-moody-walsh"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3102","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3102"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3102\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3105"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3102"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3102"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christiantwellmann.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3102"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}