Malinformation, Misinformation, Disinformation
What’s the difference?
Here’s one definition from How Spies Think:
Misinformation: Something that someone thought was true, but isn’t
Malinformation: Something that is true and is revealed for effect; telling someone’s secrets to get them in trouble
Disinformation: Something that is not true but is presented as true for effect; actively and knowingly lying
Note that disinformation can become misinformation. If someone makes a claim that they know is not true, that instance is DISinformation. If someone else then repeats that, thinking it’s true, that instance is MISinformation.
Why I Looked It Up
The terms have come up a lot, and I was aware there are different definitions, but I wasn’t sure what they were. I found this delineation in How Spies Think and it looked like a good starting point.
I’m leaving this question open, just so I can accumulate answers here.