Fact vs. fiction

Misinformation

Refers to verifiably false information that is not spread maliciously or with the intention to mislead.

Disinformation

Refers to verifiably false information that is spread deliberately with an intention to deceive and mislead, whether seeking to manipulate public events or capitalise on an agenda.

Malinformation

This category refers to true/ partially true information that is twisted or taken out of context in a deliberately misleading way to support false interpretations.

Misinformation and disinformation are not new phenomena, prominent examples date back to the Middle Ages. What is new is the great speed and distance that false information can travel.

More often than ever before, councillors and local government staff are dealing with the consequences of misinformation and disinformation both online and offline. False information around health, new technologies and elections are all serious matters that need addressing at the government level closest to the communities. Features of online false information may include emotive language and narratives, fabricated websites falsely claiming to represent governments or businesses, and images and videos that are fraudulently altered, constructed or decontextualised.

Increasingly, people keep up-to-date with news through social media, community groups and citizen journalism rather than traditional media sources. This means traditional gatekeepers have been replaced by algorithms, which drive people towards accounts with similar interests and views to them. The line between a supportive group and an echo chamber can easily become hazy. Newspapers, news sites and broadcasters will usually do fact-checking, retractions and apologies, whereas information is less likely to be verified or withdrawn on social media. Yet, there are some significant benefits such as bringing communities together and giving a voice to people who are otherwise excluded. It is important for local authorities to understand how online algorithms work, in order to ensure their messages are seen and have more impact.

What can local governments do?

Combatting disinformation is complex. There is no single fix – to suggest that there is would be an example of false information in itself. While councils do not have the power or influence to stop the circulation of misinformation entirely, they can work hard to create a trusted positive narrative that helps to reduce the impact of false information.

Local authorities can use their platforms to present accurate, fair and open messaging about key issues as a counternarrative to misinformation. Councils can make the most of the trust that many community members have in them and engage calmly and clearly with local residents, without getting into arguments with them.

They can also create effective informative content, such as videos featuring trusted and diverse community members. All in all, there’s a need to actively cut through the noise to make a difference.