What Is Misinformation?
Misinformation is just one aspect of a greater problem knows as “information disorder” which does a great deal of harm towards rational discussion within the realm of national politics in Malaysia. We aim to dissect political misinformation and present what kinds of information disorder you should be on the look-out for when you inform yourself in the run-up to the election.
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Types of Information Disorder
based on Claire Waddell
MISinformation
False information spread by someone who believes in what they’re sharing, thinking they’re helping others.
MALinformation
Genuine information that is used to inflict harm on others. eg. doxxing.
DISinformation
Intentionally false information designed to cause harm to individuals , organisations, or countries.
By Claire Wardle, Research Director at First Draft News
Misinformation In Terms Of Harm
It is no secret that misinformation can cause great harm, especially where rational discussions about politics and policy is concerned. However, for democracy to thrive and become the key to creating a better nation for all, we must be weary of misinformation and how it can be harmful to us as a society.
Misinformation can range from innocuous to seriously harmful and we’ve collected several kinds of information disorders, arranged from most to least harmful, which you should be on the look-out for when educating yourself.
Fabricated Content
100% false content created to cause harm
Manipulated Content
Genuine content that has been altered or manipulated
Imposter Content
False or misleading content that makes use of well-known organisations’ names and or/logos in order to seem more credible and believable.
Content Framed Within A False Context
Genuine content reframed and re-circulated with the original context taken out.
Misleading Content
Information used misleadingly to frame issues or individuals in a certain way.
False Connections
Headlines/visuals/captions that don’t support the original content.
Satire
Parodies which can fool undiscrening viewers and circumvent fact-checkers.