Information & the record
misinformation
False or misleading information spread without intent to deceive. Disinformation is the same content spread deliberately, usually to advance an interest.
In full
The distinction is about intent, which is hard to establish from the outside, so careful writing describes what a claim asserts and what the record shows rather than assigning motive. Both spread fastest when they confirm what an audience already believes, which is why checking primary sources matters most for claims you are inclined to accept.
Also written as: disinformation
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.