Misinformation - Does that include a "White Lie?"

Misinformation - does it include " White Lies" or Material "overlooked"?

The federal Government in an endeavour to prevent the spread of so called "misinformation" is seeking input of material relevant to the debate. Included below is a recent letter I sent to the Minister that attempts to expand on the subject.

"Dear Minister. (Herein my submission)

I refer to an article in the newspaper that referenced yourself that included the following definitions:

"Misinformation is defined as content that is false, misleading or deceptive" that is reasonably likely to cause or contribute to serious harm.

Disinformation is misinformation that is disseminated with the intent to deceive either through automated processes and foreign interference" including content purposely or maliciously disseminated.?"

Below is a short form definition from the EU:

Disinformation is the creation, presentation and dissemination of verifiably false or misleading information for the purposes of economic gain or intentionally deceiving the public.

One may well ask, what does Verifiably false mean? Indeed few things are absolutely verifiable, (unless by science and beyond any questions of doubt, such as, “the Earth is not flat”). Lawyers love this stuff!

?For example:

·??????Did Lee Oswald kill JFK?

·??????Was Harold Holt taken by a Russian Submarine?

·??????Were the unnecessarily overly full fuel tanks on the Concord crash in France the real cause of the disaster?

·??????Did Hilary Clinton really destroy evidence by smashing Blackberry phones

·??????Did Bill Clinton have sex with Monica?

·??????What is a woman?

There are many other examples as to the nature of “verifiably true of false”, I’m sure you understand.

With above in mind I would like to suggest that the above definitions may be less than ideal in they fail to explore the promulgation of information that is misleading by the lack of information where such lack of information may lead the receiving party to an incorrect conclusion. There are many examples of this.

May I also query as to whether or not it’s misinformation if it’s seen to do good, such as a “white lie”?

On another side of the coin, what about disinformation or opinion shaping by not disseminating information or suppression. This in effect is the suppression of free speech.

If you watched a recent US Senate hearing Mark Zuckerberg seemed to agree that he was prevailed upon before the TRUMP/Biden election to supress information, so too Twitter re the Hunter Biden Laptop, that has now be found to really exist --- after the Election.

Thus, is suppression also disinformation – I believe so.

What about the deliberate use and spread of disinformation where it is seen to be beneficial, such as suppressing information to the public that may cause a panic or perhaps the swinging of an election where the incumbent may think the other side winning is not in the public interest. (No doubt a tactic already in use many countries)

I believe a better definition may be words to the effect:

Misinformation and disinformation is the communication of material that may mislead the receiving party to form a particular desired opinion where the said material includes statements presented as fact without qualification and/or where available material that may allow the receiving party to form an alternative opinion is not presented.

I trust you may find this input of value?

?I look to your comment

?Sincerely. A Tax Payer