How does disinformation typically affect public perception?

Disinformation has a deliberate intent behind its creation and dissemination, often crafted to manipulate public perception and sway opinions in a specific direction. The key aspect of disinformation is that it conveys false or misleading information with the purpose of achieving a specific outcome, such as undermining trust in individuals, organizations, or institutions, or shaping beliefs against opponents.

In contrast, the other options either describe neutral or positive information sharing rather than the intentional deception characteristic of disinformation. Disinformation is not about creating confusion without intent, sharing factual information, or promoting unbiased data analysis, as these notions do not align with its core purpose of misleading or influencing public opinion. Disinformation thrives on creating narratives that are untrue or distorted, thus exerting a targeted influence on how the public understands certain issues or entities.