“Misinformation” and “disinformation” are words that probably once meant something, but the way politicians and the news media wield them these days, the words are now meaningless.

It’s important to understand the recent background of this word. “Misinformation” is now a trigger word. It’s supposed to suppress anyone’s instincts to protect free speech. Tech companies that believe in free expression and debate, and who don’t want to be seen as speech police, will make an exception for “misinformation.” Media outlets that want to rein in these competitors will accuse them of promulgating “misinformation.” And politicians who want to abridge the freedom of expression will do so by branding some expression as “harmful” and some expression as “misinformation.”