Misinformation is incorrect or misleading information.[5][6] Misinformation and disinformation are not interchangeable terms: misinformation can exist with or without specific malicious intent, whereas disinformation is distinct in that the information is deliberately deceptive and propagated.[7][8][9][10][11] Misinformation can include inaccurate, incomplete, misleading, or false information as well as selective or half-truths.
In January 2024, the World Economic Forum identified misinformation and disinformation, propagated by both internal and external interests, to "widen societal and political divides" as the most severe global risks in the short term.[12] The reason is that misinformation can influence people's beliefs about communities, politics, medicine, and more.[13][14]
Accusations of misinformation have been used to curb legitimate journalism and political dissent.[15]
The term came into wider recognition during the mid-1990s through the early 2020s, when its effects on public ideological influence began to be investigated. However, misinformation campaigns have existed for hundreds of years.[16][17]