Understanding how misinformation and disinformation spreads during emergencies and taking a few simple steps to verify what you see and hear means you can be part of making sure that accurate, potentially life-saving information reaches everyone who needs it in disasters.
Auckland University Associate professor of Communications, Helen Sissons said the quickfire circulation of rumours and wrongheaded information happens during virtually every disaster.
The information disorder researcher said misinformation spreads faster during an emergency “because people are in a heightened state of urgency and panic, eagerly searching for any crumb of information, any update, any answers.”
What’s the difference between misinformation and disinformation?
Misinformation is false information that’s shared accidentally or without harmful intent – like someone innocently forwarding outdated flood warnings from a previous event.
Disinformation is false information that’s created to deliberately mislead people – like fake earthquake predictions designed to cause panic.
What are the most common types of false information that spread during disasters?
Exaggerated disaster scale: Disinformation claiming vastly inflated casualty figures can spread widely, causing unnecessary panic when the actual impact is significantly less severe than reported.
Shortage rumors: Unverified claims about supply chain disruptions can lead to panic buying of essential goods like food, fuel, and medical supplies, despite official reassurances that supplies are still stable.
Misleading health advice: From fake remedies to downplaying disease severity, dangerous health misinformation often circulates during public health emergencies, potentially putting lives at risk.
Conspiracy theories: After major disasters, conspiracy theories falsely attributing these events to "secret experiments" or "deliberate government actions" distract from factual, potentially life-saving information and undermine public trust in emergency response efforts.
Out of date warnings: Old disaster posts often resurface during new events, they create confusion about current conditions and whether people should evacuate.
How do I spot false information?
In an emergency, keep a lookout for these red flags:
Dubious sources: Messages or articles that don’t show who wrote them, or that are from unverified accounts should be treated with caution.
Emotional language: If it has over-the-top or dramatic wording it’s likely it's been designed to trigger a reaction from you, rather than keep you informed.
Artificial urgency: Check that anything demanding immediate action is from official channels and is verified. It should name or link to an official source.
Suspicious links: If a link feels a bit off, be wary. Scan unfamiliar profiles or URLs to see if they are trying to mimic official sites with slight alterations (like replacing letters with numbers).
What can I do to avoid it?
Cross-check with official sources: Always verify information with official websites and social media accounts from the likes of NEMA, MetService, your local civil defence emergency management group or your local council before acting on or sharing it.
Check for timestamps and locations: Make sure the information you’re seeing is current and relevant to where you are. It’s really common for old posts to resurface and be recirculated.
Use verified accounts: Look for blue verification ticks on social media pages of your local emergency services and councils.
Use traditional media: Media organisations have internal editorial processes which help ensure information is accurate and verified. Broadcasters must adhere to the Code of Broadcasting Standards and the New Zealand Media Council’s Statement of Principles covers published material in newspapers, magazines and news websites and online content of broadcasters.
Politely correct misinformation: If family or friends share false information, Professor Sissons suggests messaging them privately with evidence from trusted sources and suggest they delete or correct their post. Don’t call out the false information publicly, where others can see, this might make them feel embarrassed or defensive and less likely to put it right.
Take a pause before sharing: The most important advice? Take a moment to verify information before passing it on, especially during emergencies when emotions run high.
Resources for an emergency
In the event of a civil defence emergency listen to your radio.
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A resource for getting you and your whānau prepared and ready for an emergency.
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The Agency responsible for national emergency management planning and leading or supporting the response and recovery from emergencies.
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Warnings, watches and severe weather outlook.
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A list of local and regional councils who will provide civil defence information for your area.
Emergency Guides
Metservice weather explainer: Severe weather
MetService weather explainer: thunderstorms
Mis and disinformation and how to spot it
Getting your flat emergency ready
Your community is your best resource in an emergency
Managing your medication during an emergency
Auckland University Associate professor of Communications, Helen Sissons. Photo: Supplied
Helen Sissons said her most important piece of advice is to, “pause and check before you share information in an emergency.”
