Misinformation Is the Most Urgent Threat to Humanity, Say Leading Experts
Here's why the battle against lies Is both a survival imperative — and the greatest opportunity of our time
Many of the gravest challenges humanity faces today — from climate collapse to social injustice, from public health crises to attacks on democracy, corruption, and even unjust wars — all have one thing in common:
They are either fueled by the spread of false information or, in some cases, would even be impossible without it.
For the second year in a row, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risk Report ranks this development as the the number one short-term risk to humanity — even above extreme weather events, cyber attacks, and armed conflict.
And it’s not hard to see why.
We live in a time where people can lie — blatantly, repeatedly — and not only get away with it, but win elections, shape public opinion, and hold the most powerful offices on Earth.
That’s terrifying. But there is a silver lining.
A threat — and a massive opportunity
If we can fix the underlying problem — if we can strip lies of their power, reach, and influence — we’ll unlock progress on countless fronts.
If we can find smarter, faster, more effective ways to fight falsehoods, we won’t just win the information war. We’ll take away the foundation from under the feet of those who use deception to gain power and spread harm.
The fight against misinformation (false or inaccurate information) and disinformation (intentional misinformation) is nothing less than a mission to save humanity.
Currently, the situation is getting worse.
Bad actors are growing more coordinated, online platforms are scaling back their fact-checking efforts, and many of the world’s most powerful figures are actively undermining truth — attacking science, spreading lies, and dragging us into a post-truth era where people no longer know who or what to believe.
They’re flooding our news feeds with noise and distraction, while pushing harmful agendas behind the scenes — and they’re frighteningly effective at it.
Civil society is fighting — but failing
Fact-checkers, scientists, and journalists are doing what they can to curb the spread of lies. Their work is incredibly important — but they’re up against a system designed to drown them out.
Studies show that false information spreads several times faster online than the truth. That makes this fight deeply unfair — and it’s one we’re currently losing.
We also can't rely on governments or tech companies to solve this for us.
No one is coming to save us.
So we need a new approach
We urgently need more effective, more strategic, streamlined engine for truth — something that can break through the noise and bring facts back into focus. Something that gives truth reach, resonance, and power.
And I believe such a solution is within reach. In fact, I think I’ve stumbled upon an idea that could help us get there.
After years of working in digital policy and researching misinformation, I've developed a simple yet powerful concept that could help align and mobilize efforts from researchers, civil society, and truth defenders globally in a more coordinated way.
I'm currently putting the finishing touches on the concept and plan to publish it in the coming days. This article serves as a prelude — a way to set the stage, so the next piece can dive straight into the solution without needing to reestablish the urgency of the problem.
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I'm not just here to announce my upcoming post. This is also a call to action. Because, obviously, my creativity and ideas won’t be enough. We need yours. Your skills, your insights, your imagination!
What is the best way we can tackle misinformation? Have a spontaneous idea, valuable insight, or expertise in this area?
We want to hear from you!
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Thank you! This ... Is right up my alley! I have been thinking of this ever since we standardized the internet. Gotta sleep now, but ill be back!
Monetary garnishment and physical detainment penalties for obvious lies as spread to others by persons in any position to influence others. Any declarations of fact need to be fact checked before being aired or disseminated to the public under penalty of law. Perhaps this will quiet some of the idiots down?