What key characteristic defines disinformation as opposed to misinformation?

The key characteristic that defines disinformation, as opposed to misinformation, is the intent to deceive. Disinformation is false or inaccurate information that is spread deliberately with the intent to mislead or cause harm. The person spreading disinformation knows that the information is false but disseminates it anyway, with the goal of influencing public opinion, damaging a reputation, or achieving some other malicious objective. In contrast, misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is spread unintentionally or without the intent to deceive. The person spreading misinformation may genuinely believe the information to be true, even though it is not. The critical difference lies in the presence of a deliberate intent to deceive in disinformation, which is absent in misinformation.