Defining misinformation, disinformation and propaganda
It is important to understand the distinction between
misinformation, disinformation and propaganda, especially as all three
are prevalent within all societies, be they democracies or
dictatorships.
Disinformation is intentionally false or inaccurate information that
is spread deliberately. It is an act of deception and false statements
to convince someone of untruth.
Disinformation should not be confused with misinformation, information that is unintentionally false.
Unlike traditional propaganda techniques designed to engage emotional
support, disinformation is designed to manipulate the audience at the
rational level by either discrediting conflicting information or
supporting false conclusions. A common disinformation tactic is to mix
some truth and observation with false conclusions and lies, or to reveal
part of the truth while presenting it as the whole.
In espionage or military intelligence, disinformation is the
deliberate spreading of false information to mislead an enemy as to
one’s position or course of action. In politics, disinformation is the
deliberate attempt to deflect voter support of an opponent,
disseminating false statements of innuendo based on a candidate’s
vulnerabilities as revealed by opposition research. In both cases, it
also includes the distortion of true information in such a way as to
render it useless.
Disinformation may include distribution of forged documents,
manuscripts, and photographs, or spreading dangerous rumours and
fabricated intelligence. Its techniques may also be found in commerce
and government, used to try to undermine the position of a competitor.
