Misinformation vs Disinfomation

Definition

Misinformation: False or misleading information,
not spread on purpose
Disinformation: Purposefully false or misleading information,
especially as intended for profit or political gain.

Difference

The difference between misinformation and disinformation
is intent; disinformation is intended to deceive, while
misinformation is false information spread innocently.

Problem

Misinformation & disinformation are a problem
for social media users as they have led to many
people not being able to tell the difference
between fake news and real news.

Examples

Misinformation: When a politician quotes a
news article headline without knowing the context.
Disinformation: A politician purposefully citing
a wrong statistic in order to mislead people.

How Is It Spread?

Both can be spread through word of mouth,
bot accounts, spam accounts, echo chambers, etc.

How Does AI Help It Spread?

AI can make it appear like someone said or did
something that never happened. For example, deep
fakes can make a politician say something
to further someones point.

How Is Video & Audio a Problem?

People often believe video or audio fake news
more than simple images or news articles.

Who is Spreading It?

Misinformation can be spread by anyone, while
disinformation is often spread by politicians
for political or financial gain.

How is Fake News Related?

Fake news is stories that aren't true, while
misinformation is innocently spread incorrect news.
Disinfomation is purposefully spread false information.
Both misinformation and disinformation are
subsets of fake news.

Why Do People Fall For It?

People tend to go along with what the majority
or important people believe. Fake news often spreads
with the help of echo chambers, social media, etc.