Misinformation

Misinformation is false, inaccurate, or materially misleading information shared regardless of whether the sharer intended to deceive.

Plan for this page

Understand one concept in plain language and connect it to nearby ideas.

You will leave with: It can arise from error, outdated context, misleading framing, satire mistaken for fact, or generated content. Deliberate deception is often called disinformation, but intent can be difficult to establish from the item alone.
Time: 3–8 min
Before you begin: No prerequisite. Keep one real example in mind.
Do this now: Read the explanation, then compare the example with the common misunderstanding.

Prepared next stepBuild an evidence-checking habit

MisinformationMisinformation is false, inaccurate, or materially misleading information shared regardless of whether the sharer intended to deceive.

Provenance
Verification
AI literacy

Plain explanation

It can arise from error, outdated context, misleading framing, satire mistaken for fact, or generated content. Deliberate deception is often called disinformation, but intent can be difficult to establish from the item alone.

Example

A person shares an old disaster photo as if it showed today’s event after receiving it in an urgent message.

Why it matters

AI can accelerate production and variation, while recommendation and social systems shape reach. Response requires source verification, context, corrections, trusted institutions, and careful sharing rather than only content detection.

Common misunderstanding

Misconception: misinformation must be a completely fabricated story. Correction: real media, selective facts, wrong dates, and missing context can also mislead materially.

Related concepts

Follow relationships, not only the alphabet

ProvenanceProvenance is the recorded origin, custody, transformation, and history of data, media, evidence, or a system artifact.VerificationVerification is the process of checking whether a claim, output, action, identity, or result is adequately supported for its intended use.AI literacyAI literacy is the context-sensitive knowledge, skills, and judgment needed to understand, use, evaluate, and shape AI systems responsibly.

Build an evidence-checking habit

Sources and scope

What supports this object

OECD.AI Policy ObservatoryOECD

Provides policy, incident and research context across jurisdictions; it indexes diverse sources and is not the primary evidence for every item.

Open source

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