Misinformation and Disinformation
In the age of technology and increased reliance on social media and other online sources for information, election management bodies around the world are combating organized attempts to spread misinformation and disinformation about the electoral process.
These attempts often undermine facts about the use of technology, the voting process, and the integrity and ethics of election staff. In some cases, misinformation can also discourage or intimidate people from participating in elections.
In this section we’ll cover how to spot false information and identify some steps everyone can take to stop it from spreading. But first, let’s define some important terms:
- Misinformation: Incorrect or misleading information shared without harmful intent, often due to lack of fact-checking.
- Disinformation: The deliberate creation and distribution of false information designed to deceive and manipulate, cause damage, or guide people, organizations, and countries in the wrong direction.
- Malinformation: Information that stems from the truth but is often exaggerated in a way that misleads and causes potential harm.
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