Disinformation attack

It has been suggested that this article be merged into Disinformation. (Discuss) Proposed since October 2023.

Disinformation attacks are strategic deception campaigns^[1] involving media manipulation and internet manipulation,^[2] to disseminate misleading information,^[3] aiming to confuse, paralyze, and polarize an audience.^[4] Disinformation can be considered an attack when it occurs as an adversarial narrative campaign that weaponizes multiple rhetorical strategies and forms of knowing—including not only falsehoods but also truths, half-truths, and value-laden judgements—to exploit and amplify identity-driven controversies.^[5] Disinformation attacks use media manipulation to target broadcast media like state-sponsored TV channels and radios.^[6][7] Due to the increasing use of internet manipulation on social media,^[2] they can be considered a cyber threat.^[8][9] Digital tools such as bots, algorithms, and AI technology, along with human agents including influencers, spread and amplify disinformation to micro-target populations on online platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Google, Facebook, and YouTube.^[10][5]

According to a 2018 report by the European Commission,^[11] disinformation attacks can pose threats to democratic governance, by diminishing the legitimacy of the integrity of electoral processes. Disinformation attacks are used by and against governments, corporations, scientists, journalists, activists, and other private individuals.^{[12][13][14][15]} These attacks are commonly employed to reshape attitudes and beliefs, drive a particular agenda, or elicit certain actions from a target audience. Tactics include circulating incorrect or misleading information, creating uncertainty, and undermining the legitimacy of official information sources.^[16][17][18]

An emerging area of research focuses on the countermeasures to disinformation attacks.^[19][20][18] Technologically, defensive measures include machine learning applications that can flag disinformation on digital platforms.^[17] Socially, educational programs are also being developed to teach people how to better discern between facts and disinformation online^[21] and journalist recommendations for assessing sources.^[22] Commercially, revisions to algorithms, advertising, and influencer practices on digital platforms are proposed.^[2] Individual interventions include actions that can be taken by individuals to improve their own skills in dealing with information (e.g., media literacy), and individual actions to challenge disinformation.