False information spread without any intention to mislead, such as a garbled quotation, a wrong photo caption or a rumour.
The International Spy Museum glossary distinguishes it from disinformation, which is spread deliberately.1
The European Commission’s 2018 definition of disinformation likewise excludes unintentional errors.2
Sources
- International Spy Museum (Washington, DC), Language of Espionage (glossary)
- European Commission and High Representative of the Union, Action Plan against Disinformation, JOIN(2018) 36 final, 5.12.2018
Checked: 4 November 2026