false-flag
Staged enemy attack
A false-flag operation is an attack or provocation designed to appear as if carried out by someone other than the actual perpetrator—historically, a ship flying an enemy's flag to deceive.
The term now applies to any covert action meant to be blamed on another party: They claimed the bombing was a false-flag to justify war.
In conspiracy theory circles, false-flag has become a common accusation against governments staging events to manipulate public opinion.
Deliberate deception for effect
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
- ruseDeliberate act of deception
ploy · scheme · setup · pretext · pretense · sham · charade · frame-up
Act that triggers response
- incitementProvoking unlawful behavior
- destabilizationCausing loss of stability
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
assassination · sabotage · infiltration · agitation · extremism · radicalization · terrorism · counterterrorism
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- narrativeAccount of events
- psyopInfluence operation, briefly
- distortionTwisting from original state
spin · cover-up · whitewash · gaslighting
Intentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- stagedArranged for effect
- orchestratedDeliberately arranged complex elements
- plannedDecided on beforehand
execution · mission · state-sponsored · patsy · compartmentalized · blamed · attributed · sleeper
One rejecting mainstream accounts
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- debunkedExposed as fraudulent
- allegedClaimed but unproven
suspected · investigation · skepticism · questioned · anomalies · foreknowledge
hoax
Deliberate deception for effect
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- misdirectionIntentional focus manipulation
- trickeryDeliberate deception or fraud
ruse · ploy · scheme · setup · pretext · pretense · sham · charade · frame-up · smokescreen
provocation
Act that triggers response
- incitementProvoking unlawful behavior
- destabilizationCausing loss of stability
- coupAbrupt seizure of power
insurrection · assassination · sabotage · infiltration · agitation · extremism · radicalization · terrorism · counterterrorism · blame-shifting
disinformation
Intentional deceptive falsehoods
- misinformationFalse data spread unintentionally
- narrativeAccount of events
- psyopInfluence operation, briefly
distortion · spin · cover-up · whitewash · gaslighting
covert
Intentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
- stagedArranged for effect
- orchestratedDeliberately arranged complex elements
planned · execution · mission · state-sponsored · patsy · compartmentalized · blamed · attributed · sleeper · asset
truther
One rejecting mainstream accounts
- cover-upHiding wrongdoing from public
- whistleblowerInsider who reports misconduct
- debunkedExposed as fraudulent
alleged · suspected · investigation · skepticism · questioned · anomalies · foreknowledge