menu szukaj
Weekly Online Magazine
ISSN 2544-5839

new articles each monday
zamknij
Work In Media

10.02.2025 Media industry

Automation of Disinformation. Global Risks Report 2025 and Media

Krzysztof Fiedorek

Disinformation and information manipulation have ranked first among global threats in both the two-year and ten-year perspectives. A particularly concerning factor is that social media algorithms often favor controversial or shocking content, further fueling disinformation.

Poczytaj artykuł wydanie polskie w wydaniu polskim

Automation of Disinformation. Global Risks Report 2025 and Mediaillustration: DALL-E

The development of technology and the increasing importance of social media are transforming the way we consume information. The World Economic Forum’s "Global Risks Report 2025" indicates that as many as 5.5 billion people use the internet, with over 5 billion active on social media. In this digital environment, algorithms play an increasing role in selecting content for users.

Recommendation systems increasingly operate by reinforcing social divisions. Studies show that the more extreme the content, the higher the chance it will be shared. This leads to the creation of information bubbles and limits exposure to alternative viewpoints.

A particularly dangerous trend is the automation of disinformation. Generative AI enables the creation of fake images, videos, and voice recordings, making it easier to manipulate public opinion.

Threat Consequences
Algorithms reinforcing divisions Polarization of society
Information bubbles Limited access to diverse sources
Automation of disinformation Increase in manipulated content


Rising Threats to Information


Disinformation and information manipulation have been identified as the top global threats in both the short and long term. Experts emphasize that the development of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has dramatically reduced the cost and time required to produce content.

As noted by the authors of the Global Risks Report 2025, this has resulted in a surge of manipulated materials – from fake videos and doctored voice recordings to AI-generated texts. A particularly troubling issue is that social media algorithms often favor controversial or shocking content, further exacerbating disinformation.

SELF PROMOTION. Listen to the story of Vanuatu Daily Post. Discover our #mediaHISTORYpodcast

Media in an Era of Low Trust


Global trust in the media is at its lowest in years. In a survey covering 47 countries, only 40% of respondents stated that they trust most news sources. This is a result not only of disinformation but also of growing social and political divisions that influence how facts are perceived. In high-income countries, concerns about the effects of disinformation are more pronounced than in developing nations. In 13 countries, including Germany, India, and Canada, disinformation has been ranked among the top five threats.

Meanwhile, technology is further eroding traditional mechanisms of information verification. Artificial intelligence can generate hyper-realistic content that is difficult to distinguish from authentic materials. The result is information chaos, undermining the foundations of public debate.

Problem Consequences
Spread of disinformation Undermining trust in credible media
Algorithms promoting controversy Polarization of public opinion
Generative AI in the hands of disinformers Increase in manipulated content


Beyond false information, censorship is also becoming a problem – both that imposed by governments and decisions made by technology corporations.

Censorship and Digital Surveillance


Governments and corporations today have greater access to user data than ever before. The digitization of administration allows authorities to amass vast amounts of information about citizens – from tax records to voter registries. The report highlights that, in many cases, private companies have better insight into user data than governments themselves.

The issue of digital surveillance and media repressions are particularly pronounced in East Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. In these regions, censorship and citizen monitoring are rising rapidly in the rankings of global threats. For example, in Nicaragua, digital surveillance has already become the country’s fourth-largest risk.

At the same time, technology companies are exerting increasing influence over public debate. On one hand, social media platforms remove content deemed dangerous; on the other, they often arbitrarily block information, leading to accusations of bias and violations of free speech.

Fake News as a Political Weapon


Disinformation has become an element of information warfare between nations. Election interference, economic destabilization, and public opinion manipulation are actions that can be carried out by governments and organizations.

The biggest threats associated with fake news include:

  • Creating false political narratives – for example, spreading manipulated information before elections.
  • Fueling social tensions – reinforcing conflicts between different social groups.
  • Reputation attacks – campaigns aimed at discrediting public figures.

The World Economic Forum suggests that combating disinformation requires better labeling of AI-generated content and greater transparency regarding the algorithms used by social media platforms.

Education as the Key to Fighting Disinformation


Experts indicate that one of the most effective ways to counter disinformation is digital education. Citizens should have a better understanding of how social media works, how information manipulation occurs, and how to protect their data.

The most important areas of education include:

  • Identifying fake news – learning critical thinking and source verification.
  • Awareness of algorithms – understanding how social media platforms shape information.
  • Privacy protection – knowledge of security settings and encryption methods.

Without improving public awareness, the digital information ecosystem may become even more chaotic, making disinformation increasingly difficult to detect.

The full Global Risks Report 2025 is available at:
https://www.marshmclennan.com/insights/publications/2025/january/global-risks-report.html

Share the article:

dodaj na Facebook prześlij przez Messenger dodaj na Twitter dodaj na LinkedIn

COMMERCIAL BREAK

New articles in section Media industry

Clickbait Uncovered. How Online Headlines Evolved Over 25 Years

Krzysztof Fiedorek
Researchers from the Max Planck Institute analyzed 40 million headlines from the past 25 years. They are getting longer, more emotional, and negative, with a clear influence of clickbait style. Even reputable media use strategies and tricks to grab attention.

Gen Z Will Force Brands to Tell the Truth. GWI Report and Forecasts

Krzysztof Fiedorek
They value authenticity and brand transparency, preferring socially engaged companies. Young people see technology as a tool for growth, not just entertainment. In relationships, they prioritize genuine connections despite being highly active online. What do we know about Gen Z, and what does this mean for marketing? And beyond.

Deepfake Blurs Truth and Falsehood. Human Perception Research

KFi
Studies indicate that only 60% of deepfake images can be correctly identified by humans. As AI begins to dominate content production, the problem of differentiation fatigue grows – users lose confidence in assessing the authenticity of information and fall into cynicism.


See articles on a similar topic:

"No One Should Know the Truth" [DOCUMENTARY FILM]

BARD
According to the Belarusian Association of Journalists, around 554 journalist detentions occurred in Belarus between August 2020 and July 2023. Criminal charges were brought against 73 media workers, and 33 of them remain in prison to this day.

New Individual Mass Media (Mass Self Communication)

Grzegorz D. Stunża
In the latest issue of "Le Monde Diplomatique," there’s an article by Manuel Castells titled "Individual Mass Media." The author points out that media, once subjective and often party-affiliated (as with newspapers), only briefly moved away from one-sidedness when under various pressures.

Hate speech is contagious and leads to harm [EXPERT OPINION]

Karolina Kropiwiec
‘If we are in an environment where certain groups of people are insulted, there is a high probability that we will start using such language ourselves; hate speech is contagious and its consequence is someone's harm,’ says Dr. Michał Bilewicz from the Centre for Research on Prejudice at the University of Warsaw.

The Deadliest Year for Journalism. 124 Fatalities in 2024

Krzysztof Fiedorek
The year 2024 was the deadliest for media professionals since the Committee to Protect Journalists began tracking these statistics. The tragic figures, published in CPJs latest special report, reached record highs in most monitored categories.

More in the section: Media industry

community

Facebook LinkedIn X Twitter TikTok Instagram Threads Youtube Google News Blue Sky Social RSS

Reporterzy.info - online media studies magazine. The world of communication from the inside. Media, journalism, PR and marketing. Data, reports, analyses, advice. History and market, law, photography, job offers.


Work in media

United States
New York • Washington DC • Los Angeles • Chicago • Houston • Phoenix • Philadelphia United Kingdom
London • Birmingham • Manchester • Liverpool • Glasgow • Edinburgh Canada
Toronto • Ottawa • Montreal • Calgary Australia
Sydney • Melbourne • Brisbane • canberra Ireland, New Zealand, India

advertisement





Reporter shopping

Reporter shopping

Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
Affordable laptops, notebooks and netbooks
for writing
Digital SLR and compact cameras
Digital SLR and compact cameras
for photographers
Books and e-books about media
Books and e-books about media
for reading
Video drones and flying cameras
Video drones and flying cameras
for pilots
Gimbals for stabilizing video
Gimbals for stabilizing video
for those on the move
Software and apps for creative work
Software and apps for creative work
for digital creators
More occasions

advertisement
Read books and e-books

Read books and e-books

Okładka Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man
Okładka Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Media Control. The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda
Okładka Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Social Media Marketing All-in-One For Dummies
Okładka Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Mass Communication: Living in a Media World
Okładka Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Trust Me, I`m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator
Okładka Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
Hate, Inc.: Why Today`s Media Makes Us Despise One Another
more books and e-books

Reporterzy.info

More about us

Our tools and services

Contact


© Dwornik.pl Bartłomiej Dwornik 2oo1-2o25