As World Elites Flock to Davos, Pay Attention to What World Economic Forum Considers a Top Threat
The World Economic Forum (WEF) names “misinformation” as one of the most severe threats facing the world in 2023, according to an annual report.
“Misinformation” is ranked 16th, or moderately severe, on a list of the 32 risks having the most impact over a two-year period, showed the 2023 WEF Global Risks Report, which displays the results of a survey of over 1,200 experts across multiple fields.
The ranking aligns with the WEF’s accelerated efforts in recent years to address what “misinformation” spreading online does to the health of societies.
“‘Misinformation and disinformation’ are, together, a potential accelerant to the erosion of social cohesion as well as a consequence” and can worsen growing polarization and disunity among societies, the report stated.
Political polarization, exacerbated by online information, in turn, becomes the defining feature of elections and can contribute to the degradation of democracy in a country, the report said.
Misinformation and disinformation have “become a prominent tool for geopolitical agents to propagate extremist beliefs and sway elections through social media echo chambers” by fostering doubt about political processes, the report stated. Online lies and misleading content can also “destabilize trust in information.”
“The election of less-centrist leaders and adoption of more ‘extreme’ policies in economic superpowers may fracture alliances, limit global collaboration and lead to a more volatile dynamic,” the report said.
“Misinformation and disinformation” itself was ranked more severe than employment crises, infectious diseases and the use of weapons of mass destruction.
Misinformation and disinformation are defined in the report as “persistent false information … widely spread through social media networks” that influences public opinion “towards distrust in facts and authority.”
“Global risk” is defined as “the possibility of the occurrence of an event or condition which, if it occurs, would negatively impact a significant proportion of global [gross domestic product], population or natural resources,” according to the methodology for the Global Risks Perception Survey upon which the WEF report is based.
The WEF stepped up efforts to combat so-called misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, when alleged conspiracy theories spread by those who questioned the official dogma on the virus and its remedies exploded online.
Complaints about rampant misinformation surfaced during U.S. election years, even though recent studies have shown that some online disinformation operations may have had minimal sway on public opinion.
Other lines of effort the WEF has suggested for cracking down on alleged online falsehoods include artificial intelligence that can recognize and flag or restrict content deemed dangerous by expert trainers.
Respondents to the study identified “erosion of social cohesion and societal polarization” as the fifth highest short-term risk, topping prolonged economic downturn and large-scale environmental disasters.
The cost of living crisis ranked highest in the short term, while in the long term, defined as over a 10-year period, climate change topped the list.
Respondents said the energy supply crisis, cost of living crisis, rising inflation, food supply crisis and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure as the top five immediate risks having an influence on the short and long-term risks.
WEF did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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