Characterising and evaluating the dissemination of fake news as an obstacle to disaster management through historical examples

Abstract

Disinformation and misinformation have become a part of our everyday online life. However, the problem of the spread of fals information has existed throughout history in some form and, in some degree, and has been particularly damaging in disaster situations. This article highlights how the fake news and misconceptions surroundingthe four major disasters of the post-World War II period have hindered the effectiveness of disaster prevention, preparedness and response tasks, or the recovery process, and have had a direct or indirect impact on contemporary public thinking.