The 19th edition of the WEF's Global Risks Report released this month issued this finding based on a panel of 1,490 experts across various fields. Experts have surprisingly ranked misinformation and disinformation as the foremost threat, with climate change taking the second spot. Given this, the report has also sparked concerns about the direction in which the global elite are steering public discourse.
The report's finding aligns with a growing trend among international figures advocating for increased censorship and speech controls to combat what they perceive as an "infodemic." Earlier instances, such as World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus supporting censorship, further highlight the international community's shift towards limiting free speech.
During the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, some "experts" supported restricting information and blocking those who disagreed with them. Ideas that were once considered absolute truths in the media were proven wrong. The mask debate, a focal point of contention during the pandemic, illustrated how scientific discussions turned into political weapons.
Critics who questioned the necessity of school and business closures faced censorship, and their concerns are now being revisited as some countries that did not implement strict measures did not experience significant increases in COVID-19 cases. Some argued against closing schools and businesses, but their views were silenced.
Masks became a significant social and political divider. People without masks were criticized and even chased out of stores or condemned in Congress. Initially rejecting a mask mandate, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention later reversed its position, emphasizing the divisive nature of pandemic-related measures.
Ultimately, the consequences of pandemic measures such as school closures are now being scrutinized for potential long-term effects on the emotional and developmental well-being of children.
An excuse for more censorship
Over the past four years, extensive censorship and blacklisting have protected certain experts from scrutiny. Now, these same experts are claiming that disinformation is the world's greatest threat. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create sophisticated disinformation is raising alarms about its potential impact on democratic processes.
During the Slovakian elections, a fabricated recording emerged implicating liberal opposition candidate Michal Simecka in a vote-buying conspiracy. Slovakian police have since cautioned voters to be vigilant online against malicious actors with "vested interests." While Simecka lost to a populist "pro-Russia rival," the involvement in the creation of the fake recording emphasized a growing threat to democracy. (Related: AI is currently the greatest threat to humanity, warns investigative reporter Millie Weaver.)
Recent advancements in AI technology, particularly in tools like OpenAI's ChatGPT, have made the manipulation of media cheaper and more accessible. AI-generated text, audio, and video are becoming increasingly realistic and difficult to detect. This has paved the way for the emergence of realistic deepfakes, with instances already impacting narratives surrounding the conflict in Ukraine.
Concerns about the potential electoral impact of AI-generated disinformation have led British officials to discuss the possibility of "AI-created hyper-realistic bots," while a group of U.S. senators has proposed legislation targeting "materially deceptive AI-generated" political ads.
The pressure on social media platforms to combat deepfakes and enhance content moderation has intensified. However, the WEF report suggests that these platforms are now less equipped to handle the rising threat due to reduced investments in election integrity initiatives.
For instance, tech giants like Meta have trimmed their investments in teams dedicated to ensuring safe elections. Elon Musk's X has significantly cut back on content moderation resources, with Musk advocating for what he calls "free speech absolutism."
"I think that the combination of the chaos that the generative AI tools will enable and the drawbacks of the programs that the platforms had in place to ensure election integrity is this unfolding disaster in front of our eyes. I'm extremely concerned that the victim will be democracy itself," said one anonymous head of a digital research non-profit.
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Watch the full segment of "The Pete Santilli Show" featuring Millie Weaver's warning about AI below.
This video is from the Ruth Mackenzies channel on Brighteon.com.
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Sources include:
WEForum.org [PDF]
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