We hear quite a bit about fake news. Fake news is based on misinformation and disinformation. These terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably. Misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is believed to be true but is not supported by facts; it is often a mistake. People who share misinformation typically believe in the accuracy of what they are sharing, without any intent to deceive. Despite its unintentional nature, misinformation can still have severe consequences, such as misleading the public, fostering misconceptions, and disrupting decision-making processes.

Disinformation is also information that is false or inaccurate but is spread intentionally to mislead others. This can be driven by various motives, including political gain, financial profit, or social influence. The deliberate nature of disinformation makes it particularly insidious, as it can be crafted to exploit biases and fears. Both misinformation and disinformation undermine the credibility of legitimate information sources and pose significant threats to democratic processes, public health, and social cohesion. With the advancement of AI, it is much easier to create information that appears plausible. This AI generated  information can be well-written and include audio as well as video, so it is very difficult to detect.

Although the campaigns of disinformation are often sophisticated, there are ways to spot misinformation and disinformation by carefully checking the source using the SIFT Method.

The SIFT Method

Mike Caulfield’s SIFT method is designed to help you assess the accuracy and reliability of information found on the internet. While this framework primarily focuses on web-based information, it is also applicable to AI-generated content and is a crucial component of digital literacy.

S – Stop

I – Investigate the source

F – Find other sources

T – Trace claims, quotes, and media to the original source

Stop:

The first step when you come across a website is to STOP before you decide to believe it or share it with others. You might have an emotional response to the information you are reading; however, before spreading false information or wasting more time on false claims, find the facts. Ask yourself a few questions. Do you know the website and its reputation? What do you know about this website and the information it contains?Determine what you already know about the topic you are researching. Does the information you receive ring true with your own prior knowledge? (Caulfield & Wineburg, 2023).

Investigate the source:

If you are not sure what you’re looking at and you don’t know much about the reputation of this website, take the time to perform step two of the SIFT method by INVESTIGATING the source. You can peruse the website; however, many website creators have gotten more sophisticated and can fool most people. Rather than remaining on this website, open a new tab and research the sponsors of the website. You can begin with Wikipedia or a simple Google search to see what you might find. Wikipedia has become a great place to start when investigating other websites and their sponsors. Simply type the domain of the organization (the website you are on) followed by Wikipedia. What did you find? Is the organization legitimate? What is its reputation? (Caulfield & Wineburg, 2023)

When using generative AI, are you given sources from where the information was found? If so, use the above step to peruse the website(s) and its creators. If no sources are given, try other ways to determine if the information is accurate. You can try using other tools to investigate your query. Perhaps ChatGPT supplied the first answer to your prompt, but you’re not sure if it is accurate, then try another GenAI such as Claude or Copilot.

Find other sources:

Once some of the questions are answered, don’t stop there. Continue your investigation by finding other sources that confirm or deny the claims. Even when the claims seem plausible, take the time to search for other sources. You don’t want to share the information you find if it’s inaccurate, so take a few minutes to continue your search. With easy access to LLMs, anyone can create a story that seems factual, even sophisticated. Finding other sources of information rather than relying solely on one LLM will ensure the information is accurate.

Trace Claims to the Original Sources:

If you are still unsure about the claims stated in the source you are reading, try to find the original source. Many claims, quotes and media are remade into editorials, blog posts, and news articles that are passed to others over and over. If you can find the original source, you will be able to judge its credibility before sharing the news with others (Caulfield & Wineburg, 2023).

Using the SIFT method along with critical thinking and skepticism will help you navigate the complex information landscape and protect yourself from the harmful effects of misinformation and disinformation.

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Content adapted with permission from Introduction to AI and Ethics in Higher Education.