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Mis- and disinformation are not new phenomena. However, the rapid evolution of communication technologies over the past few decades, including the rise of social media and the recent integration of artificial intelligence tools, has ushered in a new era for human interaction where mis- and disinformation have gained alarming prominence.
Online, misperceptions and misunderstandings, even when accidental, can spread like wildfire. Moreover, technology is often intentionally used to harm, deceive, and disinform. The consequences certainly escape the confines of the internet. Mis- and disinformation undermine social cohesion. Amongst other things, they erode people’s trust in institutions and in each other, muddle public deliberation and debate, fuel tensions and polarization, and diminish capacities for collective action. Why is misinformation so damaging? What can be done to mitigate its risks and enable the potential of communication technologies for social cohesion and solidarity?