There's a Difference Between Misinformation and Opinion

The Center to Counter Digital Hate decries misinformation about the Israeli - Hamas conflict on social media but neglects to say how it define misinformation.

Photo by Mahmoud Sulaiman on Unsplash

The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) is an influential group that is widely quoted in the media as an authoritative source of data about hate on the internet.

This week, Imran Ahmed, CEO of the CCDH, complained about “information warfare” by a “flood of grifters” spreading “lies and hate about the Israel-Gaza crisis” to gain influence.

What does Ahmed consider to be lies and hate? This is the critical piece of information that is rarely divulged by so-called anti-hate speech advocates. But it should be divulged.

Is it disinformation to say Israel provoked Hamas by its treatment of Palestinians, who were essentially relegated to living in what many describe as an open air prison? Most people would say this is an opinion. You’ve got your facts. They have their facts. Both set of facts may be 100% true but lead to a different conclusion.

Misinformation is different from opinion.

CNN reporter Sara Sidner apologized Saturday after defending Israel’s claim that Hamas beheaded infants. "Yesterday the Israeli Prime Minister's office said that it had confirmed Hamas beheaded babies & children while we were live on the air. The Israeli government now says today it CANNOT confirm babies were beheaded. I needed to be more careful with my words and I am sorry," she wrote.

Clearly the information Sidner propogated is misinformation.