  The information loss paradox is usually stated as an incompatibility between
general relativity and quantum mechanics. However, the assumptions leading to
the problem are often overlooked and, in fact, a careful inspection of the main
hypothesises suggests a radical reformulation of the problem. Indeed, we
present a thought experiment involving a black hole that emits radiation and,
independently of the nature of the radiation, we show the existence of an
incompatibility between (i) the validity of the laws of general relativity to
describe infalling matter far from the Planckian regime, and (ii) the so-called
central dogma which states that as seen from an outside observer a black hole
behaves like a quantum system whose number of degrees of freedom is
proportional to the horizon area. We critically revise the standard arguments
in support of the central dogma, and argue that they cannot hold true unless
some new physics is invoked even before reaching Planck scales. This suggests
that the information loss problem, in its current formulation, is not
necessarily related to any loss of information or lack of unitarity. Therefore,
in principle, semiclassical general relativity and quantum mechanics can be
perfectly compatible before reaching the final stage of the black hole
evaporation where, instead, a consistent theory of quantum gravity is needed to
make any prediction.
