Do You Know the Difference Between Misinformation and Disinformation?

Last week, we learned directly from the White House Press Secretary during her briefing on July 16, 2021, that the White House is colluding with Facebook to flag any posts the White House determines contains “problematic misinformation” and to reset their algorithms to eliminate comments and posts the White House doesn’t like! They want those people not only banned from Facebook, but from all social media outlets. Chilling! Something you might expect to hear from a Communist dictator-run country but not in America where the 1^st Amendment protects our right to freedom of speech and differing ideas.

At least we’re supposed to have that right. But instead, the White House tells us that any conversation on social media they don’t like must be shut down, and they’re actually flagging “problematic posts” themselves! They want to take control of the free flow of information regarding Covid and shield the public from information they consider inaccurate.

Social media by its very definition and original intent was to be a public square of sharing ideas where free debate and differences of opinion could flow. We’ve known for a long time that hasn’t been the case as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google have been censoring and flagging posts, even banning the sitting President of the United States, who said if they can do it to him, they can do it to you. And they are!

Facebook, as well as other social media outlets, are taking orders from the White House which determines what you can say and know. State censorship. Propaganda.

What’s the Difference Between Misinformation and Disinformation?

On Fox News Sunday, while Chris Wallace was interviewing the Surgeon General Vivek Murthy about Murthy’s telling Facebook they must do more aggressive censoring of Covid “misinformation,” the caption running below read “Facebook defends its efforts to remove vaccine disinformation.”

In the White House Briefing, Jen Psaki repeatedly interchanged the two words.

“Misinformation” and “disinformation” don’t mean the same thing. However, they’re both often the foundation and propagation of “fake news” and manipulation.

These two often mistakenly interchanged words are only differentiated by one letter, mis and dis. The distinction between the two words is intent.

Misinformation is wrong or false information. When weaponized it becomes disinformation.

The prefix mis means wrong, mistaken, or misunderstood.The prefix dis  means reversal or removal.

Here are interesting examples of disinformation from the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language:

Deliberately misleading information announced publicly or leaked by a government or especially by an intelligence agency in order to influence public opinion or the government in another nation.

Dissemination of such misleading information.

The dissemination of intentionally false information to deliberately confuse or mislead.

Who Determines What’s Considered Misinformation?

Every time I hear the words misinformation or disinformation tossed around and disseminated indiscriminately by news media, politicians, and now the White House, my husband can attest that I often say aloud: Who determines what’s misinformation? Misinformation according to who? What’s the source?

Have you noticed we’re seldom given that information? We’re supposed to accept that something is “misinformation” just because someone said it was even if they’re not an authority or provide any proof or evidence.

On social media, it’s the “fact-checkers,” whoever they are! Even as we’ve seen with Covid, experts often disagree, but one opinion is arbitrarily selected by those in control as the only acceptable source of information and any dissenting ideas are labeled misinformation. Other times, it’s determined by whoever will benefit from burying the truth or subverting questions. Anyone challenging the validity or wanting to discuss other opinions must be silenced.

Every opinion that challenges or disagrees with the liberal ruling establishment is classified as misinformation or disinformation. Even factual biological truths like there are only two genders. Marriage is between a man and a woman. Life begins at conception.

We’re Watching Our Freedoms Slip Away!

When I first saw China forcing everyone to wear masks, I thought that could never happen in America where we’re protected by the Constitution, a Bill of Rights, and freedom. Then masks were “mandated.”

We would never be forced to stay home! Then we were.

The government could never close our churches. Then they did.

Public schools would never be closed. Then they were.

The government cannot spy on citizens. Now they are.

Medical records are private and protected by Hippa. Now they’re not.

The government cannot force anyone to take medication. Now they’re trying.

Big Tech is being deputized to do what the government still can’t do legally . . . yet . . . spy on and censor American citizens.

How Can We Know the Truth?

I was recently asked on Facebook how we can know the truth in the midst of “the craziness of the world news and social media.” I gave the only answer I know and use myself. We go to the source of Truth: God and the Bible and we pray for wisdom and discernment.

My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, ²² for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. Pr. 3:21-22 NLT

Then you will show discernment, and your lips will express what you’ve learned. Pr. 5:2 NLT

Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them. Pr. 28:11 NLT

Jesus was assailed with people spreading and believing misinformation about Him. He was crucified by bad actors who seized on the opportunity to turn misinformation into disinformation, with the intent of stopping His ministry and taking His life.

But He told us plainly: Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. ³² And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NLT

The Unbelief of the People

³⁷ But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. ³⁸ This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

“Lord, who has believed our message?
    To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”^[a]

³⁹ But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

⁴⁰ “The Lord has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts—
so that their eyes cannot see,
    and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me
    and have me heal them. John 12:37-40 NLT

Many missed the Truth walking amongst them that Jesus was the Messiah and every word He said was true. Jesus was then and always will be our Only source of Truth in the midst of deception, manipulation, control, and evil diabolical disinformation.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NLT

 In her controversial briefing on Friday, Jen Psaki was asked how the White House justifies this current infringement on public speech in light of the misinformation they’ve fueled in the past causing Facebook to ban people for sharing information the White House now admits was true. She defended, “Information is always changing and evolving,” which is true. That’s why it’s ludicrous for them to label something misinformation without allowing any dissent or discussion only to find out it’s actually correct information and always was.

Information and knowledge evolves from allowing open debate. Listening to and considering different points of view. Not relying on those who have political interests in the outcome.

We must do our research and not let the hyperbole on the news and social media influence us. Sadly, much of the misinformation out there is used to project disinformation to control and subjugate the American people and that’s wrong!

This latest state censorship by the White House can easily morph right into the political elections where political opponents will be silenced. We already saw social media doing that during the last election when they banned anyone from mentioning Biden’s family scandals and removed President Trump from Twitter and Facebook.

It’s NOT misinformation to say that conservatives are flagged, banned, and censored on social media while liberals are free to project lies and disinformation. That’s a proven fact.

“Every corrupt regime since the beginning of time has framed its silencing of citizens as being in the public good,” Erielle Davidson of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America.

I personally, have seen the traffic to my author page disappear. I have 1000 followers on that page, Janet Thompson/ Christian Author and Speaker | Facebook, but as of several months ago, the only person that seems to see it is my daughter. No longer are there likes or comments on anything I post there. When I post one of my blogs on my personal page, same thing. So if you agree with anything you read from me, please share the blog and comment on the website.

I’m obviously not deterred from writing the blogs, but I do know we’re not on a fair and free playing field. God knows where the words He gives me should go, and I won’t be silenced. I hope you won’t be either.

For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. Romans 1:6 NLT

As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should! Ps 119:7 NLT

Prophecy News Watch posted an interesting article The Road to Fascism? White House And Facebook Merge to Censor Problematic Posts

I also recommend the new book by Mark Levin American Marxism!