In late March 2020, rumours began circulating about potential drugs and unproved cures. This had serious, and sometimes fatal, consequences. Described as the “infodemic”, the rapid rise in inaccurate information undermined efforts by health authorities to combat the virus. This was particularly apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, when disinformation around the virus was rife. Sharing false information online can influence everything from share prices to elections and social unrest. Facilitated by the internet and social media platforms, people are able to share fabricated stories easily and quickly. In recent years, we have seen a worrying rise in disinformation. False news legislation rarely makes any distinction, however, and this ambiguity leaves it open to abuse. ‘Disinformation’ is weaponised and can be associated with foreign interference. ‘Misinformation’ is typically inaccurate information that people write and spread inadvertently, whereas the very intention of ‘disinformation’ is to deceive. The key distinction between ‘misinformation’ and ‘disinformation’ is its purpose. Sometimes ‘disinformation’ even includes parodies or satire, which can mislead should readers take their message at face value. Some stories may contain a core of truth, but omit key contextualising information that make it misleading. The terms cover stories that are entirely fabricated, as well as others that leave out pertinent details or only present one viewpoint. Sometimes described as “fake” or “false news”, these misleading stories can come in many forms. ![]() Tackling disinformation is particularly challenging given how difficult the concept is to define. After all, who decides what constitutes “false news”? And what’s stopping this new legislation from becoming tools for institutionalised censorship? Misinformation vs disinformation This move, along with others like it globally, has alarmed journalists and human rights advocates. Any citizen spreading false information about public health could face up to 5 years of imprisonment. The approved amendment to the Penal code aims to prosecute Greek citizens who spread false information during the COVID-19 pandemic. This month, Greece joined a growing list of countries legislating against fake news.
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