Critique Isn’t Support for Authoritarians

Scholarly or public criticism of the methods and definitions used in misinformation research does not automatically equal political alignment with authoritarian actors; conflating the two risks chilling legitimate methodological debate. The dispute over expansive definitions of 'misinformation' reveals how rhetorical framing (e.g., accusing critics of abetting authoritarians) can function as a delegitimating tactic rather than an evidence‑based rebuttal. — If left unchecked, this conflation will narrow acceptable inquiry, politicize academic standards, and empower either censorship or unaccountable counter‑claims in public debate.