World Economic Forum: Freedom of Speech is a problem if it doesn’t agree with our agenda

Disinformation

Important Takeaways:

  • Disinformation is a threat to our trust ecosystem. Experts explain how to curb it
  • Today, the proliferation of false content online is pervasive and exacerbates the erosion of global trust in institutions. In fact, only 40% of people say they consistently trust news. As the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 highlights, disinformation is considered to be the world’s top risk in the next two years, and the fifth global risk in the next ten years.
  • Addressing disinformation requires a concerted effort across sectors. Governments, media organizations, tech companies and civil society must collaborate to create a multi-layered defense against the spread of false information. Empowering Internet users with media information literacy, ensuring the independence and viability of news organizations, and leveraging technology to distinguish between credible journalism and disinformation are vital to countering the spread of false information.
  • Efforts to combat disinformation are underway. The European Union, for instance, recently adopted the Digital Services Act, which takes aim at harmful content online and includes comprehensive AI regulations, covering areas like transparency, the use of AI in public spaces and high-risk systems.
  • Meanwhile, the Forum’s Global Coalition for Digital Safety is actively confronting the challenge of disinformation by exploring the role of media literacy and fostering a whole-of-society approach to countering its proliferation.

Read the original article by clicking here.