Valeentietoon

Valeentietoon is a term used in Finnish media literacy and information studies to describe the deliberate spread of false or misleading information through digital and traditional media with the aim of influencing opinions or behavior. The concept encompasses fabricated content, misattribution of sources, manipulated images or videos (including deepfakes), and framing that distorts the context to create a false impression of facts. It is not limited to outright lies but covers strategic omission and selective presentation that guide audiences toward a mistaken conclusion.

Etymology and usage: Valeentietoon is a compound of vale, meaning lie, and tietoon, relating to information or knowledge, forming a neologism in Finnish discourse. It has gained traction in academic articles, journalism, and policy discussions in the 2010s and 2020s as researchers describe how deceptive information travels online and offline, who the typical actors are (state and non-state actors, bots and amplifiers, and persuasive individuals), and how audiences encounter it.

Relation to other terms: The concept overlaps with misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, and information disorder. Some scholars use disinformation to stress intent, while valeentietoon emphasizes the broader ecology of deceptive content and its dissemination across platforms.

Detection and responses: Countermeasures include media literacy education, fact-checking networks, platform moderation, source verification, and cross-platform information monitoring. Researchers note challenges in attribution, rapid content turnover, and cultural/contextual variation in how deception is perceived.

Criticism: Some critics caution that the term can be ambiguous or context-dependent and may obscure differences between deliberate manipulation and genuine uncertainty.

See also: misinformation, disinformation, media literacy, information warfare.