Disinformation is false or modified information knowingly and deliberately shared to cause harm or achieve a broader aim.
Misinformation is information that is false or misleading, though not created or shared with the direct intention of causing harm.
The way that people access and consume information has radically changed in the last few decades. The ease and speed of access to digitised information has come with numerous benefits. However, these technologies can be used in ways that cause harm. Where individuals or groups communicate to shape public perception in ways that may be manipulative, deceptive or misleading, this can be referred to as ‘disinformation’.
New Zealanders have told us they are concerned about the effects of disinformation and misinformation. Results from public engagement, including the 2023 National Security Public Survey showed misinformation (which here covers both mis- and disinformation) remains high on the list of national security threats that people felt would likely occur in both the short- and long-term.
Government’s role
The government has sought to explore a “whole-of-society” approach to build understanding and resilience against the harms of disinformation, that can be led primarily by those outside government. This approach recognises the need to maintain an open internet and uphold the right to freedom of expression.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet has a coordinating role to explore this whole-of-society approach, with three key initiatives:
- Convening a civil society-led group to scope longer-term work
This group was established to advise the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on options for future institution-building in civil society to strengthen resilience to disinformation. The group was constituted from members of civil society with expertise in disinformation and its impacts, including academia, media, and the legal community. Te Ao Māori perspectives and participation have been important to the group’s work. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet convened the group and provided its secretariat but did not participate as a member of the group. The group’s report will be released in the near future. - Support for capacity-building and community resilience
The government has partnered with InternetNZ / Ipurangi Aotearoa to establish a timebound, one-off fund to support community projects and organisations in helping to build New Zealand’s resilience and capacity to respond to disinformation. - Commissioning public research and analysis into the problem
A set of reports have been commissioned to monitor and analyse Aotearoa’s online information ecosystem, and the impacts of disinformation.
These reports are in the process of being made publicly available, to help all New Zealanders to better understand the challenges of disinformation in Aotearoa, and to inform the other two workstreams
Government agencies
Individual government agencies and statutory bodies are responsible for addressing misinformation and disinformation issues that relate to their specific areas.