Understanding information disorders : a state-of-the-art review of mechanisms, vulnerabilities, and responses within the digital information environment[Comprendre les désordres de l’information : état de l’art des mécanismes, vulnérabilités et réponses dans l’environnement informationnel numérique]

Misinformation is one of the most serious threats to contemporary democracies, yet its underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the various forms of misinformation and how it spreads in digital environments. It challenges oversimplified explanations that blame gullibility or the deliberate circulation of false content as the sole cause. The analysis reveals that misinformation is a diverse phenomenon whose impact depends more on the context in which it circulates than on its falsity or sophistication. The report points to the structural role played by sociotechnical architectures—including algorithmic dynamics, media relay effects, and coordinated influence operations—in giving certain content disproportionate visibility, regardless of how broadly it is actually endorsed. Informational vulnerabilities are relational and context-dependent, arising from the interplay of ordinary cognitive tendencies, emotional dynamics, and digital environments designed to capture attention. In light of these challenges, the report advocates a comprehensive strategy that combines systemic countermeasures to diminish the spread and financial gain from deceptive content with individual-level interventions integrated into platform architectures. The overarching goal is a pragmatic harm-reduction framework that balances the protection of free expression with the demands of democratic deliberation.