Managing Misinformation and Disinformation through Professional Skepticism
Mbuh, Vincent Sunday *
School of Business and Economics, Department of Accounting and Auditing, Atlantic International University, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In the contemporary information age, misinformation and disinformation present profound threats to decision-making, organizational integrity, and societal trust. This article merges theoretical insights and practical case studies to examine how professional skepticism can counter the harmful effects of false or misleading information. Using case studies from the Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services and MBV Consulting Group, alongside global examples such as the COVID-19 infodemic, the Enron scandal, banking cybercrime, and vaccine misinformation, the study highlights skepticism as both an ethical posture and a methodological safeguard. This study employs a qualitative approach grounded in literature analysis and enriched with illustrative case studies to deepen understanding of the phenomena under review. Drawing on literature in accounting, psychology, information theory, and governance, it situates skepticism within frameworks of ethics, cognitive bias, and fraud theory. The article integrates recent scholarship, policy perspectives, and practical experiences to demonstrate that skepticism is indispensable for protecting organizational transparency, public health, and financial accountability. The study contributes a framework linking professional skepticism to resilience and equity, and it recommends institutional reforms to embed skepticism within training, policy, and governance structures.
Keywords: Professional skepticism, misinformation, disinformation, forensic auditing, governance