What is Unreliable Information on the Internet?

Information on the Internet may misrepresent the truth, be out of date, biased or just incorrect.

For example, racist websites may claim to tell or represent the truth about complex social, cultural or historical issues in ways that appear logical and plausible.

Hoax websites may portray themselves as another organisation and fraudulently ask for donations of money. Often these types of sites not only contain unreliable information but are also criminal in their activity.

Websites that broadcast news and events may also provide unreliable information in the sense that the activity could be reported incorrectly or reveal a bias to a particular view point.

In a similar way, personal websites and newsgroups could have opinions published on them which may be confused by some for the truth.

Due to the enormous amount of information published on the Internet, both reliable and unreliable information is freely available. Information can easily be published without it being checked over, approved, confirmed or verified in any way.