Disinformation and Misinformation

Questions and Answers

What is disinformation?

True information presented in a distorted context

False information spread with the intention to deceive or harm (correct)

Unintentional mistakes in sharing information

False information without the intent to deceive

Misinformation is always intended to manipulate people.

False

Disinformation can often be recognized by its intent to __________.

deceive

Give an example of mal-information.

Revenge porn or leaking hacked emails to damage someone's reputation. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following terms with their definitions:

Disinformation = False information spread with intent to deceive Misinformation = False information shared without intent to harm Mal-information = Deliberate publication of private information Satire = Humor intended to provide social critique but can mislead Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a category of disinformation?

Fact-checking Signup and view all the answers

Satire and parody can never be used to spread disinformation.

False Signup and view all the answers

When unintentional mistakes occur, it results in __________.

misinformation Signup and view all the answers

Manipulated content always involves using fake sources.

False Signup and view all the answers

What type of information disorder occurs when headlines, visuals or captions don’t support the content?

False Connection Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of misleading content?

To frame an issue or individual in a certain way Signup and view all the answers

Imposter content takes advantage of the trust you may have in a specific _______________________.

organization, person, brand etc. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of information disorder involves sharing genuine content with false contextual information?

False Context Signup and view all the answers

False connection is a harmless form of information disorder.

False Signup and view all the answers

Match the following types of information disorders with their descriptions:

False Connection = Headlines, visuals or captions don’t support the content Misleading Content = Manipulating information to frame an issue or individual Imposter Content = Impersonating genuine sources Manipulated Content = Altering genuine information to deceive Signup and view all the answers

Why is false context a powerful form of information disorder?

Because the content used is genuine, so it cannot be denied, but is reframed in a dangerous way to support a certain point. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Disinformation

Defined as false or misleading information spread intentionally to deceive or cause harm.
Can manifest as fabricated or manipulated audio/visual content, conspiracy theories, or harmful rumors.
Intentional distortion of scientific facts by bloggers is a form of disinformation.
Sharing selected information with biased commentary, especially by those in power, distorts reality.

Misinformation

Refers to incorrect information shared without intent to deceive.
Often includes rumors spread before verifying facts.
Unintentional mistakes like inaccurate captions, dates, statistics, or translations fall under misinformation.
Satirical content taken seriously can also be categorized as misinformation.

Mal-information

Involves the deliberate release of private information for reasons other than public interest, such as revenge or reputation damage.
Examples include revenge porn and leaked emails.
Can involve altering the context, date, or time of original content to mislead.

Forms of Disinformation

Disinformation manifests in various forms, each with unique characteristics.

Satire or Parody

Often humorous, but can mislead or spread rumors intentionally.
May evade accountability due to its comedic nature, complicating the distinction between truth and fiction.

False Connection

Occurs when headlines or visuals do not accurately reflect the content.
Clickbait can undermine trust in media and enhance polarization despite seeming harmless at first.

Misleading Content

Misleading use includes selective cropping of photos or the selective presentation of quotes and statistics.
Requires critical thinking and research to detect, as spotting such manipulation often needs specialized knowledge.

False Context

Genuine content is shared with misleading contextual information.
Powerful because it combines real content with false narratives, making it difficult to dispute.

Imposter Content

Involves impersonation of legitimate sources to manipulate trust.
Common in phishing attacks, where recognizable logos or names are used to deceive individuals into believing the content is credible.

Manipulated Content

Genuine images or information are altered to mislead viewers.
Alterations can make content appear authentic, while changing its intended meaning significantly.