#352 - Misinformation vs. Disinformation in IAM with Alejandro Leal

Jun 2, 2025

Alejandro Leal, senior analyst at KuppingerCole focused on technology governance and digital identity. He discusses differences between misinformation and disinformation and their historical roots. He explores generative AI risks, how false narratives spread online, and the tension between anonymity, verification, and trustworthy identity. Practical approaches like AI labeling and verifiable credentials are highlighted.

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INSIGHT

Intent Separates Misinformation From Disinformation

Misinformation lacks intent while disinformation seeks to create confusion or chaos.
Alejandro Leal traces these phenomena from Roman propaganda to the printing press to today's digital scale.

ANECDOTE

Historical Examples Show Messaging Power

Alejandro recounts historical examples like Julius Caesar shaping The Gallic Wars to influence masses.
He links Gutenberg's printing press to rapid idea spread and large societal change.

INSIGHT

LLMs Prioritize Prediction Over Truth

Large language models don't prioritise truth; they predict text from training data.
John Talbert's example shows AI can fabricate legal cases when summarising without verification.

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In this episode of Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman and Jim McDonald are joined by Alejandro Leal, Senior Analyst at KuppingerCole, live from the EIC 2025 stage in Berlin, Germany.

Alejandro delves into the critical distinctions between misinformation and disinformation, exploring their historical context and how they manifest in today's technological landscape, particularly within social media and legacy media. He discusses the intent behind disinformation, often aimed at creating chaos or confusion, versus misinformation, which can be an unintentional spread of false or inaccurate information.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Defining Misinformation vs. Disinformation & Historical Context00:02:00 Introduction at EIC 2025 & Guest Welcome00:06:14 The Role of Intent, Generative AI, and Countermeasures00:12:15 Impact of Mis/Disinformation on Business, Politics, and Philosophy00:16:02 How Mis/Disinformation Intersects with Identity Management00:18:07 Balancing Anonymity, Privacy, and Truthful Content Online00:23:09 Connecting to Digital Identity, Verification, and Potential Solutions (AI Labeling, VCs)00:26:45 AI Guardrails, Free Speech vs. Hate Speech, and Authenticity00:29:24 Worst-Case Scenarios and the Global Impact of Mis/Disinformation00:31:24 Actionable Advice: Responsibility and Critical Thinking00:35:38 Book Recommendation: "The Question Concerning Technology"00:39:31 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

Connect with Alejandro: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alejandro-leal-a127bb153/

The Question Concerning Technology (essay): https://bpb-us-e2.wpmucdn.com/sites.uci.edu/dist/a/3282/files/2018/01/Heidegger_TheQuestionConcerningTechnology.pdf

Connect with us on LinkedIn:

Jim McDonald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmcdonaldpmp/

Jeff Steadman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffsteadman/

Visit the show on the web at http://idacpodcast.com

Keywords:

IDAC, Identity at the Center, Jeff Steadman, Jim McDonald, Alejandro Leal, KuppingerCole, EIC 2025, Misinformation, Disinformation, Identity and Access Management, IAM, Digital Identity, Cybersecurity, Tech Podcast, Technology Ethics, Generative AI, AI Ethics, Truth in Media, Social Media Responsibility, Privacy Rights, Verifiable Credentials, Critical Thinking Skills, Fake News, Online Safety, Political Disinformation, Business Reputation, Philosophical Tech Discussions, Martin Heidegger, The Question Concerning Technology.