disinformation

/ˈdɪsənfərˌmeɪʃən/

Disinformation is when lies are told and spread deliberately, in an attempt to hide the truth or influence public opinion.

Disinformation has some things in common with misinformation; both involve the broadcasting of inaccurate or false information, usually in a public sphere like social media or on TV. But while misinformation sometimes spreads accidentally, disinformation is always deliberate and usually part of a government campaign to obscure the truth. The word derives from the Russian dezinformatsiya, which was the name of a KGB department that dispensed propaganda during the Cold War.

Definitions of disinformation

1. noun

   misinformation that is deliberately disseminated in order to influence or confuse rivals (foreign enemies or business competitors etc.)
   type of:

   misinformation

   information that is incorrect