The Internet, since its inception and creation has, arguably, become one of the most powerful drivers of social and societal change. The ability to store and retrieve qickly any amount of information has enabled huge advances in Science, Medicine, Technology, Engineering, Education - and the Internet itself - around the World. The internet is, without any doubt, a huge force for good when used for good and for the benefit of people and society.

However, the Internet, like a coin, has its flip-side, the “heads and tails”, the “good and bad”, or its “use and misuse”. In this article we shall be looking specifically at how misinformation and disinformation can confuse and mislead people, or be used by malign forces to manipulate and deceive, and even cause mental, physical, financial, and societal harm.

How much information is stored on the Internet?

It is estimated by data experts that the internet currently (2026) stores between 120 to 175 zettabytes of data (one zettabyte equals one trillion gigabytes). This total volume of global digital information expands rapidly each day through online activities such as video streaming, cloud backups, social media posts, online shopping, and other interactions with internet connected devices.

Scale and Growth of Data

Estimates now put the total global data sphere well past 120 zettabytes, with projections estimating it climbing past 175–200 zettabytes.

As noted in reports from Rivery, the daily creation of data is in the region of hundreds of millions of terabytes worldwide. High-definition video streaming and online video platforms account for over 50% of all active data consumption and storage.

Public vs. Private Data

Only a tiny fraction of total digital information, currently estimated to be around 4%, is indexed by public search engines like Google or Bing making it available to be accessed through direct addressing or search. More than 99% of stored digital information sits on The Deep Web behind passwords, encryption, or private corporate and institutional servers, making it inaccessible via standard browsing.

The rise of misinformation and disinformation

The number of people using the Internet is now estimated to be ~6.1 Billion out of an estimated global population of ~8.3 Billion, with many professionals and ordinary users using and creating content; many more atively consume content and share that content, so it is no surprise that if content is wrong, misleading, and false or fake, that this shared content will be spread widely in a very short span of time.

What is the difference between Misinformation and Disinformation?

The core difference between misinformation and disinformation is generally considered to be intent.

Misinformation is false or inaccurate information spread by mistake without any intent to harm, whereas disinformation is false information deliberately created and shared to deceive, manipulate, or cause damage and harm.

Misinformation

Understanding Misinformation

• This is essentially false facts shared by accident or lack of verification.
• Spread by people who believe or think the info is true.
  Examples include honest mistakes, rumors repeated in good faith, or old statistics and news information shared as new.
• Driven by poor fact-checking or confusion, without malicious intent.

Disinformation

Understanding Disinformation

• Falsehoods purposely designed to mislead.
• Created with clear intent to cause damage and harm or to gain an advantage.
  Examples include fabricated photos, deepfakes, state-backed propaganda, and targeted lies.
• Driven by political agendas, financial profit, or a desire to destabilize trust.

Other types of information used with malicious intent

Malinformation

Another form of the dishonest use of information is malinformation. This involves intentionally publishing (truthful) private information to gain personal or commercial advantage. Intentionally changing the content, date and time stamps of authentic information also falls under this concept. With malinformation, the disseminator intends to cause harm. The big difference with disinformation is that the information is accurate or truthful. An example is the distribution of private erotic images.

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI)

Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI) is the term used within the European Union for interference by foreign actors, perpetrated by means of information operations. FIMI is a usually legal pattern of behaviour that threatens or could negatively harm our values, procedures and political processes. Such activity is manipulative, deliberate and coordinated, and can be carried out by both state and non-state actors.

What are the main drivers of misinformation and disinformation?

The main drivers of misinformation and disinformation stem from a combination of deliberate manipulation for political or financial gain, technological design that rewards engagement, and deep-seated human psychological vulnerabilities. While misinformation is shared unintentionally without malice, disinformation is created with an explicit intent to deceive.

1. Intentional Motivations (The Drivers of Disinformation)

Disinformation is systematically generated by specific malign actors for strategic reasons:

• Political Gain:
  Partisan actors and foreign states weaponize propaganda to influence elections, sway policies, or destabilize rival governments.
• Financial Profit:
  Outlets fabricate sensational “clickbait” stories exclusively to drive web traffic and capture advertising revenue.
• Ideological Vested Interests:
  Industries or organizations manufacture doubt to protect their financial interests, such as delaying climate regulations.
• Malicious Trolling:
  Certain individuals or communities spread chaotic fabrications purely to disrupt social systems or cause public anxiety.

2. Technological and Media Infrastructure

Modern digital communication has accelerated how quickly false narratives spread:

• Algorithmic Amplification: Social media algorithms prioritize user engagement, heavily boosting emotionally charged or controversial content.
• Echo Chambers: Platforms allow users to self-curate isolated trust networks, shielding themselves from opposing viewpoints or factual corrections.
• Evolving AI Tools: Generative AI allows bad actors to rapidly scale campaigns using realistic deepfakes and automated text.
• Eroded News Journalism: Shrinking traditional newsroom budgets cause shorter fact-checking turnaround times, driving rapid “social-first” reporting over rigorous verification.

3. Psychological and Social Vulnerabilities (The Drivers of Misinformation)

Well-meaning individuals often believe and spread misinformation due to systemic cognitive blind-spots:

• Fear and Uncertainty: During crises, high anxiety forces the brain to latch onto oversimplified narratives that offer a false sense of certainty.
• In-Group Tribalism: People routinely accept and share false information to conform to social circles, signal political affiliation, or protect their group identity.
• Cognitive Laziness: Human brains prioritize processing speed over fact-checking, routinely mistaking plausible-sounding claims for objective truth.
• Emotional Manipulation: Content meticulously engineered to provoke intense moral outrage or fear effortlessly bypasses a person's critical thinking filters.

Misleading sensationalist headlines exaggerate minor facts, stoke fear, or use clickbait to trick readers into clicking.

Protect yourself from disinformation

It is important to always be careful and critical of information. You can take various steps to protect yourself from disinformation.

Before

• Educate yourself on what disinformation is and how it works.

During

Be critical of the information you read. You can recognize disinformation by asking yourself a few questions:

• Who is the author, creator or disseminator of the message?
  Find out who wrote the message and look up more information about this person or organisation online. If you can't find anything about this person or organisation, chances are they don't exist and the information is unreliable. On websites, you can often find out further information about the creators and their intentions through the “about us” or “disclaimer” page.
• Is the information in the message truthful?
  Are sources mentioned? Are these credible? No link to the source? Then use a search engine to see if the source can be found.
• For what purpose was the message created or distributed?
  Consider why the message was created and how the creators might want you to think or behave after reading it. You can sometimes infer what the creators want to achieve from the tone and wording of a message. For example, the goal may be to change your opinion about something, to provoke an extreme reaction, or even to make money by getting lots of people to click on the link; this type of article is often called clickbait.
• Read beyond the title.
  Very exaggerated or misleading titles are often used to attract attention, provoke emotions or draw readers to a page.
• Consult multiple sources.
  Not sure if a particular post or article is accurate? Then check out other reliable (news) sources as well. If you find the same information there, chances are the information is correct. Check when a particular post or article was written and when it was shared.
  Sometimes old news stories are shared on social media, either accidentally or to make it seem like something happened recently. If you cannot find a date of publication, check other sources, (websites or accounts) to see if they have also shared this information.
• Fact-check it yourself.
  Sometimes photos or videos are used out of context. You can identify the actual context of the photo by putting it into a search engine. Read more tips on how to fact check.
• Be critical of style.
  Is the article full of misspellings and exclamation points or is much of the title in capital letters? If so, chances are you are dealing with disinformation.

After

• Still not sure if the information is accurate and reliable?
  Then do not spread the information or message any further.

How to deal with misinformation online

To avoid misinformation and disinformation, pause before reacting or sharing; check the original source for credibility, and cross-reference claims across multiple reputable news outlets. Be extra cautious of content designed to trigger intense emotions like anger, fear, or extreme validation.

Evaluate the Source

Inspect the publisher: Look for transparent “About Us” pages, clear author credentials, and a verified track record of corrections.

Watch for fake domains: Be alert to look-alike URLs that mimic legitimate news organizations with altered domain endings or slight spelling tricks.

Check the evidence: Real reporting relies on named sources, documents, or data rather than vague rumors or anonymous social media accounts.

Analyze the Content

Look past the headline: Headlines are often exaggerated or sensationalized to secure clicks; read the full context of the article before drawing conclusions.

Spot emotional manipulation: Be suspicious of posts that try to make you panic, feel intense rage, or instantly share without thinking.

Verify images and video: Reverse-image search suspicious visuals to check if they are old photos taken out of context or manipulated media.

Build Better online Information Habits

Practice lateral reading: Open a new tab and search to see what independent fact-checkers or other mainstream publications say about a claim before believing it.

Diversify your news feed: Avoid relying solely on algorithmic social media feeds where sensational or polarizing content spreads fastest.

Pause before sharing: Give ‘breaking’ or ‘shocking’ news time to develop and be properly vetted rather than reposting unconfirmed claims as these two words are often emotional hooks used as click-bait to draw your attention.

What can you do to counter the spread of disinformation?

Here are 10 easy steps recommended by the European Parliament to recognise and stop the spread of disinformation:

01. Stay vigilant

Watch out for headlines designed to generate engagement without regard for accuracy. Look at news content beyond sensational headlines and prioritise substance over sensationalism.

02. Learn to decode disinformation

One of the best ways of working out whether something is disinformation is by paying attention to the kind of language it uses. Remain cautious of emotionally charged news stories, as they may be part of a foreign interference campaign designed to influence public opinion. Deceptive language and vague assertions are also frequently used to mislead readers. Look for clear, emotion-free and evidence-based reporting.

03. Verify the source

Prioritise news from credible sources with transparent practices, especially amidst increased foreign interference and disinformation campaigns targeting democratic processes.

04. Fact-check

Take proactive steps to verify the accuracy of a news story before sharing it, particularly on social media platforms vulnerable to manipulation. Help spread articles checked by your local fact-checking organisations.

05. Cross-check information

Given the likelihood of sophisticated disinformation tactics, compare news from multiple reputable sources to counter manipulation and false narratives. Be aware of a possible coordinated effort to spread disinformation.

06. Think twice before you share

Make a habit of pausing before sharing content, especially on social media. Take a moment to look beyond the headline, scrutinise the details and assess the credibility of the source.

07. Investigate images or videos

Disinformation can also be spread using non-textual multimedia content. Exercise caution when you find visual content accompanying news stories, as manipulated images and videos are common tactics in disinformation campaigns. Verify the authenticity and context of multimedia items.

08 Educate yourself

Stay informed about common strategies used in foreign interference and disinformation campaigns. Empower yourself with knowledge to recognise and combat deceptive tactics. For example, check the following dedicated sites:

• European Parliament’s page on disinformation
• EU’s External Action Service’s East Stratcom Task Force
• European Digital Media Observatory
• EU Disinfo Lab

09. Encourage critical thinking

Foster a culture of critical thinking and media literacy in your community to build resilience against disinformation. Encourage scepticism and independent verification of information to mitigate the impact of manipulative narratives.

10. Report suspicious content

Actively report instances of disinformation and hate speech to relevant authorities or platforms.

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Conclusion

Protecting your online information integrity is as important as protecting your personal information. With so many malign actors creating and spreading false, misleading, and often harmful, content on the internet, and with the surge in AI generated information retrieval bringing search results that ofetn include false and fake ‘facts’, it is increasingly more difficult to ascertain what is factual, truthful, and honest information.

It is a sad fact that even world renown institutions have fallen prey to dishonesty and malicious actors on the internet, with some, the British news broadcaster, the BBC for example, deliberately manipulating information to discredit a world leader, for their own ideological reasons.

To protect ourself online we MUST be objectively critical of ALL information; we must use all the tools and techniques available to us as described in the information given in this article.

We must all play our part in protecting the honesty and integrity of the internet; we can do this by not sharing obviously false, fake, harmful, and otherwise dangerous information.

If you have doubts about the validity, integity, honesty or truthfullness of information, be it text, images, or video, then stop; analyse the content and, if possible verify the integrity of the content.

If you still have any doubts or concerns about information or content - DO NOT SHARE IT.

References

European Parliament - Disinformation: 10 steps to protect yourself and others

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