Disinformation

False or misleading information deliberately created and spread to deceive, distinct from misinformation which may be shared unknowingly.

Disinformation is deliberately false or misleading content created to deceive audiences, manipulate public opinion, or cause harm.

Disinformation vs. Misinformation

Disinformation	Misinformation
Intentionally false	Unintentionally false
Created to deceive	Shared believing it’s true
Strategic purpose	No malicious intent

AI’s Role

AI amplifies disinformation through:

• Generation: Creating convincing fake content at scale
• Distribution: Algorithmic amplification of engaging falsehoods
• Targeting: Personalized manipulation campaigns
• Detection evasion: Generating variations to bypass filters

Countermeasures

• Content provenance and watermarking
• Platform moderation and labeling
• Media literacy education
• Prebunking and inoculation strategies
• Cross-platform coordination

The Challenge

Generative AI dramatically lowers the cost of producing convincing disinformation while detection remains difficult.