Addressing the disinformation threat in India

• The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 identifies misinformation and disinformation as the highest short-term global threat.
 • The report defines “global risk” as an event that can adversely affect a significant portion of the population, the global GDP, and natural resources.
 • The rise of AI-generated content, algorithmic biases, and deep societal divides are making it harder to distinguish facts from deception.
 • India, with 900 million Internet users, is vulnerable without proper policy implementation to combat disinformation.
 • The crisis fuels consumer boycotts, economic conflicts, and international tensions.
 • Public trust in legacy media is dwindling, leading to a significant number of users forwarding unverified information.
 • The report warns of an emerging “tech oligarchy” and calls for policy changes like the European Union’s Digital Services Act to combat Disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI).
 • India faces persistent Chinese disinformation threats since the 2017 Doklam standoff, prompting the ban of over 300 Chinese apps.
 • The report recommends upskilling developers, improving public awareness and digital literacy, and ensuring accountability through supervisory boards and AI councils.
 • The report also suggests that platforms should be mandated with regular risk assessment, adequate funding for cybersecurity research and innovation, transparent content moderation policies, and expanded public awareness initiatives.
 • The report emphasizes the need for collaboration among civil society groups, fact-checkers, and regulators, a support system for independent research on disinformation, and stronger laws to protect journalists.