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Misinformation vs. Disinformation: How to Tell the Difference ("But disinformation often contains slander or hate speech against certain groups of people, which is not protected under the First Amendment.")
Readers Digest ^ | February 15, 2023 | Laurie Budgar

Posted on 03/09/2023 7:59:51 PM PST by DoodleBob

...Misinformation contains content that is false, misleading, or taken out of context but without any intent to deceive.

When family members share bogus health claims or political conspiracy theories on Facebook, they’re not trying to trick you—they’re under the impression that they’re passing along legit information. In reality, they’re spreading misinformation.

Examples of misinformation

Misinformation ran rampant at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Consider claims of false COVID-19 treatments that spread across social media like, well, the virus they claimed to cure. Those who shared inaccurate information and misleading statistics weren’t doing it to harm people. In fact, most were convinced they were helping.

This type of false information can also include satire or humor erroneously shared as truth. “Misinformation can be your Uncle Bob [saying], ‘I’m passing this along because I saw this,'” Watzman notes.

...

Disinformation is false or misleading content purposefully created with an intent to deceive and cause harm. It’s typically motivated by three factors: political power or influence, profit, or the desire to sow chaos and confusion....While many Americans first became aware of this problem during the 2016 presidential election, when Russia launched a massive disinformation campaign to influence the outcome, the phenomenon has been around for centuries.

...

In general, the primary difference between disinformation and misinformation is intent. Both are forms of fake info, but disinformation is created and shared with the goal of causing harm.

Usually, misinformation falls under the classification of free speech. But disinformation often contains slander or hate speech against certain groups of people, which is not protected under the First Amendment.

(Excerpt) Read more at rd.com ...


TOPICS: Reference; Society
KEYWORDS: bidenvoters; bs; censorship; coverup; disinformation; freespeech; lies; misinformation
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To: GreenLanternCorps

I’ve only read headline and your comment, to which I agree.


21 posted on 03/10/2023 4:14:04 AM PST by NetAddicted (MAGA2024)
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To: Jim Noble

They have an article to click at “first amendment,” and blurb says “freedom of speech only applies to certain situations.” That is all I’ve read so far.


22 posted on 03/10/2023 4:30:51 AM PST by NetAddicted (MAGA2024)
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To: DoodleBob

“While many Americans first became aware of this problem during the 2016 presidential election, when Russia launched a massive disinformation campaign to influence the outcome...”

I would have to say that this is a prime example of disinformation.


23 posted on 03/10/2023 6:20:59 AM PST by euram (allALL)
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To: DoodleBob

Appalling! Yet another old-time American institution down the drain.


24 posted on 03/10/2023 11:28:45 AM PST by Albion Wilde (“There is no good government at all & none possible.”--Mark Twain)
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To: BenLurkin
This person does not look twisted and evil

Neither does the devil. It's one of his superpowers.

25 posted on 03/10/2023 11:31:14 AM PST by Albion Wilde (“There is no good government at all & none possible.”--Mark Twain)
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To: euram

Easy way to distinguish the two.

Misinformation: Mistake

Disinformation: Deliberate


26 posted on 03/10/2023 11:32:28 AM PST by Texas resident (Who is running our country?)
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To: PghBaldy

After DeWitt and Lila Wallace died in 1981 and 1984 respectively, slowly but surely RD went downhill. Just like any other present organization or foundation that started off somewhat conservative and turned Woke/Red.


27 posted on 03/10/2023 11:58:09 AM PST by princeofdarkness
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To: PghBaldy

I didn’t know that Readers Digest was still around. It is not surprising that it is just another leftist outlet.


28 posted on 03/10/2023 12:02:25 PM PST by Wallace T.
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To: DoodleBob

I’ll file it under “Mal-information”.


29 posted on 03/10/2023 1:02:23 PM PST by just Grace
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