Learn / Misinformation and narratives
Misinformation, disinformation and malinformation
The short answer
Misinformation is false information shared without intent to harm. Disinformation is false information created or shared on purpose to deceive or harm. Malinformation is true information used to cause harm, for example by exposing private details. The difference lies in intent and truth, which is why the same post can be handled differently.
The three terms
The three words come from a widely used framework, sometimes called information disorder, set out in a 2017 report for the Council of Europe. It sorts harmful or misleading content by two questions: is it false, and was it meant to cause harm?
- Misinformation is false or misleading information shared without intent to harm. The person sharing usually believes it or has not checked it.
- Disinformation is false or misleading information created or shared on purpose to deceive, manipulate or cause harm.
- Malinformation is genuine information used to cause harm, for example by publishing private details to harass someone or by releasing true material in order to damage a person unfairly.
In short, misinformation is false and unintended, disinformation is false and intended, and malinformation is true and harmful in its use.
Generic examples
These examples are invented to show the difference.
- Misinformation: a relative forwards a photograph of a flood, believing it shows today's event, but it is from several years earlier. They meant no harm.
- Disinformation: a group writes a fake official notice announcing a road closure and spreads it through many accounts to cause confusion. The falsehood and the aim are deliberate.
- Malinformation: someone publishes genuine private messages of a named person, with the aim of humiliating them.
The same post can change category as it travels. A deliberate fabrication that an ordinary reader shares in good faith becomes misinformation in their hands, even though it began as disinformation.
Common forms it takes
- Old photographs or video presented as new.
- Real content with a false caption or location.
- Edited or generated images, audio and video.
- Impersonation of an official, outlet or organisation.
- Satire or jokes mistaken for fact.
- True statistics stripped of the context that gives them meaning.
- Made-up quotations attributed to real or invented people.
Many people avoid the phrase "fake news", because it has been used both for fabricated stories and as a label for stories someone dislikes. The three more precise terms are easier to use fairly.
Why intent is hard to judge
Truth can often be checked against evidence. Intent usually cannot. From the outside, you rarely know whether someone shared a false claim in error or on purpose. For that reason, careful writers describe what they can show, such as "this image is from an earlier event", and avoid accusing the person who shared it of lying unless they have evidence of intent.
How to respond
When you see something that might be false
- Pause. Content that provokes a strong reaction is built to be shared. Slow down.
- Check the origin. Who posted it first, and what is their record? See how to trace a claim to its source.
- Check the date and place. A reverse image search often shows earlier uses of a photograph.
- Look for other reports, including from different regions and from people with no stake in the story.
- Do not forward it if you are unsure. Not sharing is a valid choice.
When you know it is false
- Share the correction, not just the false claim. Lead with the accurate fact, then briefly say what was wrong.
- Link to the best evidence, such as the primary document or the original image.
- Correct kindly and in private where you can. People who feel attacked tend to defend their position.
- Use the reporting tools of the platform for content that is harmful or impersonates others.
Why corrections often reach fewer people than the original is covered in how narratives spread.
Key takeaways
- Misinformation is false and unintended, disinformation is false and intended, and malinformation is true but used to harm.
- The same item can change category as it moves from creator to sharers.
- Truth can often be checked, but intent rarely can, so describe what you can show.
- Pause, check the origin and date, look for other reports, and share corrections with the accurate fact first.
Common questions
What is the difference between misinformation and disinformation?
Both are false or misleading. Misinformation is shared without intent to harm, often by people who believe it. Disinformation is created or shared deliberately to deceive or harm. The difference is the intent behind it.
What is malinformation?
Malinformation is true information used to cause harm, such as publishing private details to harass a person. Unlike the other two, the content is genuine, and the harm comes from how and why it is used.
How can I tell if something is disinformation?
You can usually test whether it is false by checking its origin, date and evidence. Proving intent is harder. Signs such as impersonation, coordinated posting and fabricated documents suggest deliberate deception, but they are signs, not proof.
Should I debunk false posts publicly?
Often yes, but with care. Lead with the accurate information, link the evidence and avoid repeating the false claim as a headline. A private, polite note to the person who shared it can work better than a public argument.
Where 7Analytica fits
7Analytica is being built to make it easier to see where a claim began and how it changed, which are the first questions to ask about any doubtful item. It is meant to describe the evidence and leave the conclusion to you, rather than label content as true or false. The MVP is in development.