# Disinformation

False information deliberately created or shared to mislead.

Canonical page: https://givegigs.com/wiki/disinformation
Last updated: 2026-11-09T19:00:07.964Z
Parent topic: [media-and-civic-life](https://givegigs.com/wiki/media-and-civic-life)

## Contents
- [Overview](#wiki-section-overview-1)
- [Recognizing a campaign](#wiki-section-patterns-2)
- [Respond with care](#wiki-section-response-3)

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## Overview

Disinformation is false information deliberately created or shared to mislead. The distinction from misinformation is intent: misinformation may be shared without intent to deceive. Intent is not always visible in a message, so assess the evidence and avoid presenting a guess about motive as established fact.

Explore related topics:
- [misinformation](https://givegigs.com/wiki/misinformation)
- [fact-checking](https://givegigs.com/wiki/fact-checking)
- [media-literacy](https://givegigs.com/wiki/media-literacy)

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## Recognizing a campaign

A coordinated campaign may reuse identical claims or assets across accounts, impersonate a trusted source, or adapt a message for different audiences. These patterns warrant investigation but do not by themselves prove who organized the activity or why. Preserve links and timestamps, seek original sources, and distinguish verified coordination from speculation.

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## Respond with care

Correct a false claim with a clear account of what is known and a checkable source. Avoid amplifying harmful content unnecessarily, and protect people who may be targeted. Public communication should disclose uncertainty, correct its own errors, and avoid labeling disagreement as deception without evidence.

## Sources

- [UNESCO: Journalism, Fake News and Disinformation](https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/journalism-fake-news-and-disinformation)

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