kidmercury

To put it bluntly, disinformation is lying. It is the intentional manufacturing and distribution of information intended to obscure the truth.

The most basic type of disinformation is little more than fiction: purely false information passed off as true. On a more subtle level, it can involve lies of omission, exaggerated or fictionalized half-truths, or diversionary information designed to obscure the real issue and discredit those with opposing views.

Examples of this are all abound in global corporate media. In the United States, comedian Jon Stewart's show The Daily Show exposes disinformation campaigns in a humorous way. Below are some examples.

• Corporate media coverage of former US President Clinton's interview with Fox news (perhaps ironic in that Clinton signed the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which enabled media consolidation and the very corporate-controlled media he is discrediting)
• CIA analyst Ray McGovern confronting former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld regarding lies pertaining to weapons of mass destruction
• Jon Stewart on the use of the question mark in media

You get the idea.


Disinformation in the Attention Economy: A Business Opportunity


Disinformation may no doubt be distasteful, but it is a problem -- and like any problem, an opportunity exists in providing a solution. The Internet makes information, and thus, disinformation, easier to create. As the amount of disinformation increases, value will shift to services that help people find quality relevant and important information. Such services will need to be trustworthy, and will need to be knowledgeable enough to identify important information. As the Internet grows, the battle for attention will only intensify -- and companies that deliver solutions that enable users to maximize their ROI on their attention will be in a good position to develop a solid and loyal customer base.

Other Posts in This Series

Mockingbird Marketing: Controlling Perception by Controlling Media
Problem Reaction Solution
Disinformation: Using the Truth to Tell Lies
Additional Resources for Exploring Black Op Marketing