Misinformation and Disinformation: The Top Global Threat of 2024
According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024, misinformation and disinformation have been identified as the most severe short-term global risks—even ranking above armed conflict, inflation, and cyber insecurity.
📌 Source: World Economic Forum, Global Risks Report 2024
The report, compiled from the Global Risks Perception Survey with nearly 1,500 global experts, places false and misleading information at the very top of threats likely to cause major disruption in the next two years.
“Misinformation and disinformation are seen as the most severe global risks over the next two years, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts and upcoming elections.”
— World Economic Forum, GRR 2024
The Role of AI and Technology
The rise of generative AI, deepfakes, and echo chambers driven by engagement-based algorithms has enabled bad actors to create highly convincing false content at scale.
AI-generated disinformation is no longer fringe—it is a mainstream risk with implications for democracy, healthcare, climate policy, and social stability.
📌 Example: AI-generated videos mimicking public officials, false scientific claims about vaccines, and climate change denial content have all spread virally.
📌 Source: Global Risks Report 2024 Executive Summary (PDF)
Why This Matters Now
2024 is a historic election year—with over 3 billion people heading to the polls in more than 50 countries. The World Economic Forum warns that disinformation campaigns may:
- Undermine election legitimacy
- Fuel social unrest
- Weaken public trust in institutions
- Delay climate and health action due to confusion and conspiracy narratives
“In an increasingly AI-augmented information ecosystem, false narratives could erode the legitimacy of newly elected governments.”
— WEF Global Risks Report 2024
What Can Be Done?
The report calls for urgent, global cooperation to tackle this threat. Some key recommendations include:
- Digital literacy programs to help people identify manipulated content
- Platform accountability through algorithm transparency
- Cross-border policy and information integrity frameworks
- AI detection systems to trace the origin and evolution of misleading content
📌 Source: WEF Press Release on Global Risks Report 2024
Visual Summary
Final Thought
The World Economic Forum’s latest findings make one thing clear: misinformation and disinformation are no longer just media issues—they are existential societal risks.
As AI tools grow more sophisticated and information flows faster, the ability to distinguish truth from manipulation becomes not just important—but essential for the future of democratic societies.