Taxonomomy of Disinformation

Abstract

Disinformation permeates science through individuals, organizations, and governments that manipulate scholarly communication, media, and institutions. This new taxonomy provides a framework and language to explain the actors, outlets, and methods. For example, scholars recently published misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines in a peer-reviewed journal. Now retracted, an author reposted the debunked claims as legitimate research on their website. This case demonstrates how the credibility of a professor's website can be exploited to introduce falsehoods, and how bad actors circumvent corrections. With clarity on the nature and flow of scientific disinformation, journalists and policymakers can better identify and respond.Comment: 10 pages, 3 table