Misinformation, Polarization Amplify Armed Conflict & Climate Change: WEF Global Risks Report

by Tim Hinchcliffe | The Sociable

Misinformation and disinformation, along with societal polarization, are catalysts that amplify all other global risks, including armed conflict and climate change, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).

On Wednesday, the WEF published its annual Global Risks Report with very few changes from last year’s edition.

For the second year in a row, the number one global risk over the next two years is misinformation and disinformation, which have cascading effects on other leading risks, according to the WEF “Global Risks Report 2025.”

“Similar to last year, Misinformation and disinformation and Societal polarization remain key current risks […] The high rankings of these two risks is not surprising considering the accelerating spread of false or misleading information, which amplifies the other leading risks we face, from State-based armed conflict to Extreme weather events”

WEF Global Risks Report 2025

WEF Global Risks Report: “For the second year running we have misinformation & disinformation as the top-ranked risk”: WEF Managing Director Mirek Dušek https://t.co/T4Cxc3omQD pic.twitter.com/CHIXHigCEx

— Tim Hinchliffe (@TimHinchliffe) January 15, 2025

According to the Global Risks 2025 report:

Polarization “continues to fan the flames of misinformation and disinformation, which, for the second year running, is the top-ranked short- to medium-term concern across all risk categories.

“Efforts to combat this risk are coming up against a formidable opponent in Generative AI-created false or misleading content that can be produced and distributed at scale,” which was the same assessment given in the 2024 report.

Apart from inflation and economic downturn, there isn’t much of a difference in global risks between 2024 and 2025. Read Full Article >