A false flag is a stratagem for hiding or misrepresenting one's identity. This may be done to avoid attack or shift blame to another.
Historically this was done by a ship which would fly the flag of a different nationality. This might be done:
(1) to avoid attack
(2) to allay suspicion
(3) to spread misinformation
(4) to sow discord between allies
Sometimes one country will dress soldiers in the uniform of another country in order to incite an international incident.
It may be done in politics when one political party uses an "independent" organization or person to spread falsehoods about an opponent.
