Why You Should Know About Information Disorder
(Karen Naumann, Senior Instructor, Public Affairs & Communication Strategy Directorate · Defense Information School)
In the highly-informative article, “Countering the Falsehoods of Information Disorder,” Karen Naumann writes in Strategies & Tactics about three kinds of troubles that an organization or individual can face. It is helpful and valuable, for protective reasons, to gain an understanding of them. Learn now, not after you’ve become victimized.
“Misinformation,” Naumann writes “is defined as false or misleading information that is based on misconceptions or ignorance and is communicated without an intention to cause harm.
“Disinformation, on the other hand, is false information knowingly shared with the intent to cause harm.
“Malinformation is truthful information that is weaponized against a person, organization or country -- often by taking information that was meant to stay private and making it publicly available.”
In this age where information can be so easily, quickly discovered or created and widely or precisely disseminated, and with human beings being highly emotional and self serving, you can see why it is important to understand the lay of the land and the risks to well-being.
Misinformation happens. It can lead to problems yet it can be often be prevented and more often than not, overcome when necessary.
Disinformation is much more of a challenge. You are responding to unsavory people with little-to-no sense of right and wrong, doing purposely unsavory things, rationalizing their behavior to where their brains give them permission to do what they want to do. Such perpetrators create a story in their mind to where what they’re doing feels ‘right’ and produces pleasure in the brain.
Malinformation is rampant. Is it always a negative? It depends. Is it emotionally driven? For what purpose is its dissemination? Morality and ethics matter. For this article however, let’s talk about malinformation being used to cause pain and cripple people or organizations in one or many ways and in a manner that doesn’t respect morals or maybe law.
Therefore, it’s of critical importance to know your enemies and who might become one. It’s also important to have at least a general idea of how you will respond to such an act of aggression or terror. Preparing emotionally too is wise. Getting knocked off balance after being blindsided is not the time to test your skill at stress management and resilience.
Skillfully selecting a teammate or team ready to support you and guide you through the war declared on you is insurance-minded thinking and first aid awaiting you should you need it.
In her article referenced at the beginning of this published piece, Naumann refers to the work of Claire Wardle, Ph.D., a research fellow at Harvard Kennedy School and Hossein Derakhshan, an Iranian-Canadian writer and researcher.
Wardle and Derakhshan "advise us to consider three factors: the agent spreading the message, the message (or content) itself and the interpreter."
We may not always know or learn of the agent. Sometimes we do and it’s helpful because we can learn more about motive. The message is usually simple to decipher. The interpreter is not always us. It can be another audience, one that will help act as the catalyst for the problems to come.
Information Disorder is growing in regularity and is a danger to individuals and organizations alike. There are nefarious people and groups out there. Just knowing the dangers that exist is knowledge and power. Preparing oneself for poised, intelligent, wise, skilled response takes some time and work yet can act as trustworthy insurance. Think: safeguards.
