Welcome to Part 1 of our series: How to Spot Manipulation During an Election. We hope it'll give you the tools to make an informed decision this election season.
Definitions
Misinformation
Inaccurate or misleading information. Not necessarily ill-intentioned, but it gets the facts wrong.
Disinformation
False information that is intended to mislead. It deliberately misstates facts.
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While intention is an important distinction, it’s difficult to quantify. In an election, it’s pretty clear that candidates want your vote, so it’s easier to point to an intention.
Misinformation
Examples
Examples
Nazi leaders used a clear example of this to gain popularity with their “Stab-in-the Back” Myth, which stated that Germany’s WWI defeat was due to internal enemies.
A lighter example would be the conspiracy theory that Walt Disney was cryogenically frozen. Though uncorroborated, it led to a rumor that the movie Frozen was created to bury search results about his body.
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So how might this look in an election?​
Let’s be clear: we are running for the World Zionist Congress (WZC). The World Zionist Organization (WZO) is one of four bodies whose budget and leadership are determined by the WZC.
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Slates that misrepresent this might not have bad intentions. They might be misinformed themselves.
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The WZC and the four bodies in question are complex and difficult to explain over social media. While not explicitly harmful, it does not put power in your hands or help you make an informed decision.
Disinformation
Examples
Example
In March 2022, as Russia was in the early days of waging its war on Ukraine, the Russian government claimed that the US and Ukraine were collaborating on chemical weapons. They even brought this claim to the UN, though no one could prove it. It was not the first time Putin had made false claims about the US and Ukraine relationship, which he had previously used as part of his excuse to invade Ukraine.
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This dangerous claim can turn attention away from Russia’s actions and make Russians believe they have an enemy.
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So how might this look in an election?​
You may see some slates using the very real rise in antisemitism in the US, especially on college campuses, as a reason to vote in the WZC.
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You may also see some stating that you should be against a two-state solution because it’ll bring H*mas into Jerusalem and that that’s why you should vote for them.
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Both are fabricated and rely on your emotions and pain to push you to make a quick, uninformed decision.
Spotting the Manipulation
What You Can Do
What We Believe
What you can do:
We encourage you to read up on what the WZC can and can’t influence.
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The WZC is not a legislative body in Israel or the US, and it cannot create laws in either country.
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It can have no impact on the antisemitism on college campuses. Other organizations in the US tackle these issues directly, and we believe we should rely on them as experts to handle this.
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What we at ANU believe:​
We at ANU believe a two-state solution is the only way to keep Israel safe and democratic. While the WZC does control partial funding to the settlements, it is not a legislative body and cannot create a Palestinian state. Our values are important. Honesty is one of them.
Any slate relying on the fear they cause by having you imagine H*mas in Jerusalem to sway your vote relies on your pain to put them in a position of power.
Sources
Review our sources:
we encourage that.
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“Misinformation, Disinformation & Malinformation: A Guide.” Princeton Public Library, 24 Oct. 2024, princetonlibrary.org/guides/misinformation-disinformation-malinformation-a-guide/.
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“Hindenburg Spreads ‘Stab-in-the-Back’ Myth.” United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline-event/holocaust/before-1933/hindenburg-spreads-stab-in-the-back-myth. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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Markel, Dr. Howard. “How a Strange Rumor of Walt Disney’s Death Became Legend.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, 17 Dec. 2018, www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-a-strange-rumor-of-walt-disneys-death-became-legend.
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Finnegan, Connor. “Russia Escalates False Chemical Weapons Claims about US, Ukraine by Bringing Them to UN.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 11 Mar. 2022, abcnews.go.com/Politics/russia-escalates-false-chemical-weapons-claims-us-ukraine/story?id=83366504.
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“The World Zionist Congress and the 2025 Elections.” Israel Policy Forum, 19 Mar. 2025, israelpolicyforum.org/atid/the-world-zionist-congress-and-the-2025-elections/.
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“Zionist Congress.” American Zionist Movement, azm.org/wzo/zionist-congress/. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.