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The principal difference between misinformation, disinformation and malinformation is the intent of the person or entity providing the information. Misinformation is the broader term and it refers to any false or misleading information. Misinformation could be a trusted friend relaying a plausible-sounding tidbit of information they themselves believe to be true when, in fact, the information is incorrect.

Disinformation, on the other hand, is intentional. People or entities spreading disinformation know that the information is false or misleading and they want to deceive or mislead their audiences.

Major retailers such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Kohl's have said that they would stop carrying MyPillow's products.

Lindell is also facing potential litigation from Dominion Voting Systems for claiming their voting machines played a role in alleged election fraud.

He's also urged Mr. Trump to declare martial law in Minnesota to obtain its ballots and overturn the election.

Following the storming of the U.S. Capitol earlier this month, Twitter has banned over 70,000 accounts for sharing misinformation.

Twitter has suspended Mike Lindell, the CEO of My Pillow, from the social media platform. He had been using his Twitter account to spread disinformation about the 2020 election, including false claims of voter fraud and election rigging.

Lindell's account was "permanently suspended due to repeated violations of our Civil Integrity Policy," a Twitter spokesperson told NPR. It was not immediately clear which posts from Lindell led to his removal from the social media platform.

How journalists can fight misinformation

Don’t get fooled. Of the journalists surveyed by PEN America, 11% said they had unwittingly spread false information. These red flags are signs of manipulation:
Conspiracy theories; emotional or polarizing content that targets group identityImpersonating an expert; discrediting or trolling opponents

Prebunk misinformation. Inoculating people before they are exposed to false information, rather than debunking it after the fact, is much more effective. Rather than simply correcting facts, it’s important to address the social and emotional factors at play by discrediting the motives underlying a piece of misinformation.

To prebunk, warn your audience about the type of misinformation they might encounter and explain why a source might lie or be misinformed—before they see it organically. Prepare them for the idea that there might be two different “sides” with two different sets of facts.
Repeat factual information. Make sure your audience is familiar with the truth. For example, don’t assume that people know how elections work. Explain it early and often.Use social engagement for good. Local journalists in particular can build credibility by engaging with their communities, which helps to strengthen social ties and demystify the journalistic process.

Malinformation is truth used to inflict harm on a person, organisation or country. Examples of malinformation include phishing, catfishing, doxing, swatting and revenge porn.