University of Kwazulu-Natal

Confronting Misinformation During Disasters Strategies For Crisis

Bonisiwe Shabane
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confronting misinformation during disasters strategies for crisis

By Dan Stoneking and Ed Conley for Homeland Security In today’s tumultuous landscape, the rise of misinformation and disinformation during disasters poses a significant challenge to effective crisis communication. The recent response to Hurricane Helene has starkly illustrated how false narratives can exploit the chaos, undermining trust in relief agencies and governmental institutions. As crisis communicators, our role is to deliver timely and accurate information and confront misinformation head-on. We are integral to the process of combating false narratives that jeopardize recovery efforts. The advent of social media has transformed the dissemination of information, allowing misinformation to spread at an alarming rate.

To navigate this landscape, crisis communicators must adopt forward-thinking strategies that are not merely reactive but proactive. These strategies empower us to be prepared and in control. Here are key tactics informed by historical and contemporary examples, including Taiwan’s 2024 presidential elections, the 2023 Maui wildfires, the U.S. Coast Guard’s Deepwater Horizon response, and lessons from FEMA’s rapid response team model. The first step in combating misinformation is anticipating its occurrence. Crisis communicators should recognize that misinformation always arises in disasters and has throughout history—it’s the rule, not the exception.

We can prepare and develop forward-leaning strategies by anticipating its emergence, including plans for dedicated teams and dissemination, monitoring, and response protocols. A dedicated misinformation monitoring team is essential to identify and counter false narratives effectively. This team should comprise experts in social media analysis, crisis communication, and community engagement, and it should be responsible for continuously monitoring various platforms for emerging misinformation trends. For example, Taiwan’s proactive measures during its 2024 elections included a dedicated real-time monitoring team for identifying and debunking false claims (Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association, 2024). In today’s tumultuous landscape, the rise of misinformation and disinformation during disasters poses a significant challenge to effective crisis communication. The recent response to Hurricane Helene has starkly illustrated how false narratives can exploit the chaos, undermining trust in relief agencies and governmental institutions.

As crisis communicators, our role is to deliver timely and accurate information and confront misinformation head-on. We are integral to the process of combating false narratives that jeopardize recovery efforts. The advent of social media has transformed the dissemination of information, allowing misinformation to spread at an alarming rate. To navigate this landscape, crisis communicators must adopt forward-thinking strategies that are not merely reactive but proactive. These strategies empower us to be prepared and in control. Here are key tactics informed by historical and contemporary examples, including Taiwan’s 2024 presidential elections, the 2023 Maui wildfires, the U.S.

Coast Guard’s Deepwater Horizon response, and lessons from FEMA’s rapid response team model. The first step in combating misinformation is anticipating its occurrence. Crisis communicators should recognize that misinformation always arises in disasters and has throughout history—it’s the rule, not the exception. We can prepare and develop forward-leaning strategies by anticipating its emergence, including plans for dedicated teams and dissemination, monitoring, and response protocols. A dedicated misinformation monitoring team is essential to identify and counter false narratives effectively. This team should comprise experts in social media analysis, crisis communication, and community engagement, and it should be responsible for continuously monitoring various platforms for emerging misinformation trends.

For example, Taiwan’s proactive measures during its 2024 elections included a dedicated real-time monitoring team for identifying and debunking false claims (Taiwan Digital Diplomacy Association, 2024). Once misinformation is detected, it is crucial to analyze its origins, types, and potential impacts on the community. By triaging the most misleading narratives, we can prioritize responses. Not all misinformation poses an equal risk; focusing resources on narratives that could lead to significant public harm is essential. Combating the Infodemic: How Misinformation Hinders Crisis Response and What Communicators Can Do In today’s interconnected world, crises often unfold simultaneously in the physical realm and the digital landscape.

While emergency response teams grapple with the immediate dangers of natural disasters, pandemics, or other emergencies, a parallel battle is waged against the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation. This "infodemic," as it has been termed, can exacerbate the real-world consequences of a crisis, impeding relief efforts and sowing confusion among affected populations. Justin Ángel Knighten, former associate administrator in the Office of External Affairs at FEMA, brings firsthand experience to this critical issue, having witnessed the detrimental impact of misinformation during responses to events like Hurricanes... He emphasizes the urgent need for proactive communication strategies to counter the spread of false information and ensure that accurate, life-saving guidance reaches those who need it most. Knighten’s experiences illustrate the challenges faced by emergency management agencies in the digital age. During the hurricanes, FEMA struggled to disseminate vital evacuation information amidst a torrent of false and misleading content circulating online.

The speed and scale of misinformation dissemination, often fueled by automated bots and malicious actors, overwhelmed traditional communication channels. The resulting confusion and distrust hampered evacuation efforts and delayed the delivery of essential aid. Knighten stresses that the proliferation of AI-driven content poses a significant threat, enabling the rapid creation and dissemination of fabricated stories, manipulated images, and deceptive narratives. The ability of these AI tools to mimic human communication makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish between credible sources and malicious actors. One crucial lesson learned from these experiences is the necessity of proactive communication strategies. Waiting for misinformation to spread before responding puts organizations on the defensive and makes it harder to regain control of the narrative.

Instead, communicators need to anticipate potential sources of misinformation and develop preemptive strategies to address them. This includes building strong relationships with trusted media outlets, engaging with communities through social media platforms, and establishing clear channels for disseminating verified information. Proactive communication also involves educating the public about how to identify misinformation and encouraging critical thinking skills. By empowering individuals to discern fact from fiction, we can collectively build resilience against the spread of harmful narratives. Another crucial element in combating misinformation is effective monitoring. Organizations need to actively track online conversations, social media trends, and emerging narratives related to their area of expertise.

This allows them to identify potential sources of misinformation early on and develop targeted responses. Monitoring can involve using social listening tools, tracking relevant hashtags, and engaging with online communities. By staying attuned to the information landscape, organizations can anticipate potential crises and prepare effective communication strategies in advance. You have full access to this open access article Misinformation significantly challenges disaster risk management by increasing risks and complicating response efforts. This technical note introduces a methodology toolbox designed to help policy makers, decision makers, practitioners, and scientists systematically assess, prevent, and mitigate the risks and impacts of misinformation in disaster scenarios.

The methodology consists of eight steps, each offering specific tools and strategies to help address misinformation effectively. The process begins with defining the communication context using PESTEL analysis and Berlo’s communication model to assess external factors and information flow. It then focuses on identifying misinformation patterns through data collection and analysis using advanced AI methods. The impact of misinformation on risk perceptions is assessed through established theoretical frameworks, guiding the development of targeted strategies. The methodology includes practical measures for mitigating misinformation, such as implementing AI tools for prebunking and debunking false information. Evaluating the effectiveness of these measures is crucial, and continuous monitoring is recommended to adapt strategies in real-time.

Ethical considerations are outlined to ensure compliance with international laws and data privacy regulations. The final step emphasizes managerial aspects, including clear communication and public education, to build trust and promote reliable information sources. This structured approach provides practical insights for enhancing disaster response and reducing the risks associated with misinformation. Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript. Misinformation during disasters can intensify risks and hinder effective disaster risk management (DRM). This paper introduces a systematic methodology to assess social media misinformation risks and impacts in DRM.

By offering structured tools and strategies, it aids researchers, policymakers, decision makers, and practitioners in understanding, preventing, and mitigating misinformation, ultimately fostering more resilient communities and enhancing response efforts. The scientific literature identifies different types of information disorders, among which misinformation is commonly understood as “false” or “misleading” information, shared without the intent to deceive. Lazer et al. (1979) define it in contrast to disinformation, which is deliberately false and spread with the intent to mislead. They place both within the broader context of “fake news,” a term they describe as fabricated content mimicking news but lacking journalistic intent or process. Ireton and Posetti (2018a) similarly highlight misinformation and disinformation as core categories of information disorder and caution against the use of “fake news” due to its politicization and its use to discredit journalism.

While DiFonzo and Bordia (2007) focus on rumors—unverified and socially meaningful information circulating in uncertain contexts—the present study emphasizes misinformation and rumors as broad, commonly used terms in scholarly work to encompass various forms... When an outbreak occurs, fake news and conspiracy theories can circulate rapidly, often going viral. For those of us working in animal health, the comparison between how misinformation spreads and how viruses propagate is strikingly appropriate. In 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that, in addition to the challenges brought by the pandemic, the world was grappling with an “infodemic” sparked by the proliferation of conspiracy theories and falsehoods... This marked the first pandemic in history in which misinformation spread on an unprecedented scale thanks to technological advancements and the Internet. A study published in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene estimated that at least 800 people may have died worldwide due to coronavirus-related misinformation during the first three months of 2020.

At the time, it was not uncommon to see the pandemic described as a “hoax” or the virus labeled a “bioweapon” in online content.The pandemic underscored the role that misinformation plays during health crises,... The COVID-19 emergency, however, uniquely prepared us for future infodemics, leaving behind a legacy of awareness for generations to come. Misinformation is a false, deceptive, misleading or manipulated information not disseminated with the intention to deceive. It is often spread by people who do not realise it is false and do not intend to cause harm. Propaganda and conspiracy theories about diseases can provide people with simple and easy answers to complex questions. Throughout history, deceptive and misleading information has been used to manipulate people, especially those who don’t have the scientific knowledge to see through falsehoods, leading to widespread mistrust, anxiety and fear.

When information is deliberately created, presented and disseminated with the intent to deceive, mislead or cause harm to advance specific agendas or distort public opinion, the phenomenon is described as ‘disinformation’. The rise of social media has only compounded the problem. In recent years, platforms such as Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) have become places where people seek answers and reassurance during times of uncertainty, including pandemics and natural disasters. Unfortunately, these platforms also create fertile ground for unverified statements and generally harmful content.Dr Helen Roberts, a G7 Advisor on Exotic Disease Control at the UK’s Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA),... In the United States, some social media users were suggesting to drink raw milk with HPAI in it, falsely claiming that it would vaccinate people against the flu. But it is not just social media users who fall prey to misinformation.

During outbreaks, even reputable news outlets can sometimes misinterpret information from official sources. Identifying misinformation may be a daunting task due to its nature and pervasiveness. However, our collective resilience against it can be strengthened. About misinformation during disasters: Dan Stoneking and I explore this topic in a new column for Homeland Security Today. Importantly, we focus specifically on how emergency information officers can confront the challenge. Drawing on contemporary and historical case studies, we share real world strategies that work.

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