Definition
False information that is spread unintentionally and usually not maliciously, which may nonetheless mislead or increase likelihood of harm to persons.
See also: Disinformation
Background
Misinformation refers to false information spread without intent to harm, often stemming from misunderstandings or mistakes, for example sharing the news that a celebrity has died before realising it’s not true. Disinformation is deliberately created and disseminated with the aim to deceive and manipulate public opinion or obscure the truth. Hoaxes fall under disinformation, crafted to trick or entertain, sometimes with malicious intent, other times for satire or critique, requiring audiences to critically evaluate the credibility and source of the information they encounter.
Classifications
- Error: a genuine source makes mistakes
- Fabricated Content: 100% false information, created to deceive
- False Connection: headline or captions do not support the content
- False Context: genuine content shared with false contextual information
- Imposter Content: impersonation of genuine sources
- Manipulated Content: genuine text or media is changed with the intent to deceive
- Misleading Content: content is used in a misleading manner to improperly frame an issue
- Propaganda: content used to manipulate attitudes
- Satire and Parody: no intent to deceive but has the potential to be believed
- Sponsored Content: paid or advertising content disguised as genuine content
Investigation Tools
- Captain Fact: Chrome or Firefox extension collaborative fact-checking Youtube video content
- Emergent: real-time rumour tracking
- EUvsDisinfo: database of Russian Federation’s ongoing disinformation campaigns
- FactCheck.org: monitors US Politics
- Google Fact Check Explorer: search fact checks about a topic or person
- Hamilton Dashboard: displays outputs from sources that can be directly attributed to the Russian, Chinese, or Iranian governments or their various news and information channels
- Lead Stories: fact-checking platform that identifies false or misleading stories, rumors, and conspiracies
- Media Bias Fact Check: Daily list of fact checks
- Politifact: fact-checks “newsworthy and significant” statements
- Snopes: extensive fact-checking research on popular topics
- Twitter Bot Sentinel: detects and track trollbots and untrustworthy Twitter accounts.
- List of political disinformation website campaigns
- List of fake news websites
Education
- A Beginner’s Guide to Social Media Verification
- Center for an Informed Public
- Countering Disinformation Effectively: An Evidence-Based Policy Guide (CEIP)
- News Literacy Project
- NewseumED: a collection of free online resources, activities, and workshops created to promote media literacy skills for everyday life
Example Rule
Spreading false or misleading information knowingly or recklessly is prohibited.
Discussion
Discuss this label in the Misinformation forum.
