Ten terms to understand the phenomenon of disinformation in the digital age

Disinformation is not a new phenomenon, but in the digital context it has become a complex threat and a significant risk to democracies and trust in institutions.

Unlike other languages, such as English, which use up to three terms to differentiate its characteristics ( malinformation, misinformation and disinformation ), in Spanish we misuse the concept to also describe other assumptions such as, for example, ignorance of a fact.

However, falsehood, manipulation, and the distortion of reality take many forms that are sometimes difficult to identify due to their subtlety. With this in mind, 11 researchers from ten different institutions compiled 125 terms related to disinformation in a book chapter that is part of the annual publication of the Forum Against Disinformation Campaigns in the Field of National Security.

– Butterfly attack. A technique similar to astroturfing, but with a different approach: instead of supporting issues or groups with the illusion of a grassroots movement, it's used to infiltrate, divide, and deactivate existing communities, campaigns, and groups.

– Cherry-picking. The fallacy of incomplete evidence or selective attention consists of considering valid only data or evidence that confirms one's own idea or position while discarding information that contradicts it.

– Darvo (Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender). It literally translates as 'Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender.' It is a reactive and manipulative technique that consists of denying evidence and defending oneself by attacking, reversing the roles of victim and aggressor. It is used to silence individuals or groups.

– Chewbacca Defense. A defensive propaganda technique that consists of presenting nonsensical arguments with the aim of confusing the attacker or accuser. It is based on overwhelming with lies or fallacies by presenting topics, examples, and associations that have no relation to the topic being discussed in order to divert attention and sow doubt.

– Deplatforming. The act of deliberately removing, limiting, blocking, or denying access to individuals, organizations, or groups that violate the usage policies of online platforms, service providers, and critical services. This measure relates to the practice of content moderation, determining its suitability for a particular site, location, or jurisdiction and reducing its spread and impact.

– Factoid. A popular belief with no factual basis. A false, inaccurate, or trivial statement or piece of information that becomes a supposedly incontrovertible fact due to its repetition in multiple sources.

– Gish Gallop. A propaganda and debate counter-technique that involves broadcasting a multitude of messages in a short period of time, where the quantity and speed of the arguments prevail over their veracity. Its name comes from its creator, Duane Gish, who used this technique against proponents of the theory of evolution.

– Impersonation (cloning, identity theft, doppelgänger). A technique of information manipulation in which legitimate, real entities, such as media outlets, public organizations, and individuals, are cloned or impersonated, with the aim of deceiving the public and spreading false or misleading information.

– Information manipulation. Describes a pattern of behavior, mostly not illegal, intended to threaten or negatively impact democratic values ​​and political processes. Such activity is manipulative in nature, carried out intentionally and in a coordinated manner by foreign actors and their representatives within and outside their territory.

– Pseudo-skepticism. Refers to denialist positions that define themselves as skeptical. It should not be confused with either the skepticism inherent in scientific practice or philosophical skepticism.

This article was written by nine authors from higher education institutions in Spain and published on The Conversation, a nonprofit organization that seeks to share academic ideas and knowledge with the public. This article is reproduced here under a Creative Commons license.