Disinformation
Origin
Some reference 1939 as the word's date of origin. Another cites 1950s: formed on the pattern of Russian dezinformatsiya .
Definition
- 1: false information deliberately and often covertly spread (as by the planting of rumors) in order to influence public opinion or obscure the truth esp. propaganda issued by a government organization to a rival power or the media.
Description
Disinformation is intentionally false or inaccurate information that is spread deliberately. It is an act of deception and false statements to convince someone of untruth. Disinformation should not be confused with misinformation, information that is unintentionally false.
Unlike traditional propaganda techniques designed to engage emotional support, disinformation is designed to manipulate the audience at the rational level by either discrediting conflicting information or supporting false conclusions. A common disinformation tactic is to mix some truth and observation with false conclusions and lies, or to reveal part of the truth while presenting it as the whole (a limited hangout).
Another technique of concealing facts, or censorship, is also used if the group can affect such control. When channels of information cannot be completely closed, they can be rendered useless by filling them with disinformation, effectively lowering their signal-to-noise ratio and discrediting the opposition by association with many easily disproved false claims.
