Is Misinformation a Sin?
Shall we make it illegal?
When I was growing up, I never heard the word “misinformation.” I heard about people lying or spreading lies. I heard about people being wrong or mislead. At some point I learned fancier words like “propaganda.” I probably heard the adjective “misinformed,” as in “I’m sorry, sir, but there is no ‘Free Ribs Friday’ promotion at this restaurant. You were misinformed.”
But the pervasive use of the word “misinformation” to describe an dangerous threat to our well being - that is a recent phenomenon.
What is “Misinformation”?
In the most basic sense, misinformation amounts to false claims. But there’s more to it. As used today, the noun “misinformation” implies action - namely, the willing promotion or spread of such claims. Hence my title “Is Misinformation a Sin?”, which sounds like it needs a verb (i.e., “Is Spreading Misinformation a Sin?”). But today the verb is sort of ‘built into’ the word itself.
Some definitions say that “misinformation” is spreading things you believe are true but are not, whereas “disinformation” is the intentional spread of falsehood (like a form of lying).
Since a person’s intent is crucial for making the moral judgment of whether or not an action is sinful, this is a really important distinction.
Lying vs. Being Wrong
With rare exception, lying is a sin. This is according to Moses and the rest of the Bible, but also according to the teachings of all the other religions, as well as non-religious people. It is wrong, in fact, according to the conscience and moral intuition of nearly every person. So “disinformation” - the intentional communication of falsehoods - is essentially lying, and therefore a sin.
But what about the more innocent cousin of disinformation? Is it also as sin if I disseminate what I believe to be true but is not? The information may be factually wrong (i.e. misinformation), but does that itself make me morally wrong for believing and sharing it?
Obviously not, unless maybe you have been so willfully blind or intellectually lazy that you should have known better, which is a moral failure of a different kind. Not the same as lying. More like a form of neglect, a lack of vigilance, a certain apathy. And in that way the debate could be had as to whether this is a sin on your part.
Lying ABOUT Misinformation
In media and politics today, the word “misinformation” is everywhere. If you didn’t know any better, you’d think it is not only a terrible sin, but one of the most evil forces in our present world. And as such, it is a handy rhetorical weapon. Ours is an age of slander and name-calling in the public sphere, and the accusation of “misinformation” has become routine.
But as long as we’re talking about what is or isn’t a sin, we need to say without hesitation that to falsely accuse someone of misinformation is yet another species of lying. As ironic as it sounds, some of those who have cried “misinformation” are guilty of something worse, since their accusation is “disinformation.”
This has become common. Our leaders do this with far too much ease. Anything they don’t like or agree with just gets the “misinformation” label slapped onto it. Remember the confusing fiasco of the COVID era? It was impossible to know the truth early on, but that didn’t stop politicians, so-called “experts,” celebrities and millions of internet know-it-alls from waxing confident about where it came from, how it spreads, what does or doesn’t cure it, the efficacy of vaccinations, and so on.
It was a festival of misinformation, but we couldn’t yet know how much and which views were wrong. And on the part of some of our trusted elites, there was even disinformation. Fauci later admitted that he had to lie to us at one point ‘for our own good.’ His credibility, and thus his right to tell us what is or isn’t misinformation, eroded like that of other politicians and big-money-media.
Should Misinformation be Illegal?
A few of our most misguided political leaders and public voices have floated the disastrous notion that we make misinformation punishable by law. I know the word “Orwellian” gets used a lot, but I can think of few ideas that are better fitted for it. I mean, really. Do we want to arm the same corrupt leaders who wrongly call things they don’t like “misinformation” with state power to lock people up for it? All dissent from the approved narrative would henceforth be criminalized. So much for the First Amendment.
Furthermore, if willful disinformation isn’t criminal, except in a few very specialized cases, why would misinformation be so? It’s morally neutral by comparison. If I read an article by a scientist who questions the state-approved position on climate change, vaccines, or whatever, am I not free to consider the merits of it? Maybe the scientist is right, and maybe he/she is wrong. But should he/she be be arrested for writing it and should I be detained for interrogation if I link to it? Unless your name begins with “Kim Jong …,” you would probably say no.
No we definitely don’t want to give our hapless cultural elites the tools to come after us for wrong-think. They’ll end up labeling humor that offends them as “misinformation.” Inept politicians will undoubtedly become so progressive on the issue that they will make satire illegal. And who will be making these important decisions about what qualifies as criminal misinformation? Will it be the same mostly-anonymous group of so-called “fact-checkers” who have beclowned themselves so many times?
In Summary
Disinformation is lying, so don’t do it. As for misinformation, some of it is inevitable, but you are responsible to do some diligence and not hastily disseminate anything and everything just for clicks. The more trusted your official position (all you civic leaders and media people), the greater your responsibility to do this.
If you have believed and professed something you genuinely thought was true but, as it turns out, wasn’t, you weren’t sinning. You were just wrong. Admit it, be happy to ditch unwanted falsehoods, adjust your point of view, and move on.
In the case of difficult controversies where you’re not totally certain, say as much. Confess that you’re fallible and not omniscient. Take a position you think is best with the caveat that new information could change your mind; and don’t overstate your case.
Finally, if you’re in a position of influence - politics, media, entertainment - and your views are challenged, don’t hit the “misinformation” button in knee-jerk fashion. In fact, unless you’re prepared to explain how and why a claim is false, how about you do us all a favor and keep that overused word out of your mouth.