Press Release - Global Information Environment Faces Escalating Threats, Experts Warn: Flagship Survey Anticipate Further Degradation Due to AI Advances and Social Media Ownership Concerns
September 23, 2024 – Zürich, Switzerland – A new survey by The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE), reveals a concerning outlook for the global information environment, with an increasing majority of experts predicting further degradation due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). The report entitled Expert Survey on the Global Information Environment 2024 - Searching for Solutions (published 24 September) flags social media owners, politicians, and governments as the biggest threats to information integrity.
The survey was conducted in June 2024 by the IPIE—the only scientific, systemic, and global response to address the health of the information environment. More than 400 leading academics drawn from computer and data science, engineering, the social sciences and humanities were questioned from 66 countries.
The findings showed rising alarm—while just over half (54%) of experts anticipated worsening conditions in 2023, this figure has now climbed to 63%. This heightened concern is particularly pronounced in global majority countries, where three-quarters of experts (75%) express strong pessimism about the future of the information environment.
Key Findings
- Social media owners and AI threat: Experts consider owners of social media platforms the greatest threat to the information environment, followed by local and foreign governments, politicians, and political parties. Nearly two thirds (63%) feel that AI-generated videos, voices, images, and text have negatively impacted the global information environment. Looking ahead, more than two-thirds (67%) of experts worry about the escalating impact of AI technologies in the next five years.
- Generative AI’s Dual Nature: While generative AI is perceived as a threat—amplifying biases, facilitating misinformation, and increasing harassment—it also holds promise. Experts are hopeful that AI can enhance content detection, support journalism, and improve cross-cultural communication. Nevertheless, the majority remain concerned about the current and future applications of AI technologies.
- Data Access Challenges: Notably, fully three quarters (77%) of researchers are worried about our ability to even understand the challenges ahead, or make good policy, because of poor data access. This underscores the critical need for enhanced data transparency and availability.
"The results of our 2024 survey underline a troubling reality: the global information environment is at a critical juncture”, said IPIE Co-founder and President Phil Howard (Canada). “One of the most pressing concerns highlighted by our survey is the influence of social media platform owners – be they billionaire entrepreneurs, foreign governments or parent companies. Their control over content distribution and moderation policies significantly impacts the quality and integrity of information. The unchecked power of these entities poses a grave risk to the health of our global information environment."
Chief Science Officer for the IPIE Sebastián Valenzuela (Chile), said: “The data we need to advance our understanding of the information environment is not just locked away; it’s barricaded behind private networks and corporate walls. Until we open those gates, we will remain in the dark, and our research will continue to lag behind the critical insights we so desperately need. Without transparency and open data, developing effective policies to counteract misinformation and technological threats will remain an uphill battle."
The 2024 survey results reflect a growing consensus among the global research community about the deteriorating state of the information environment. The challenges posed by AI and digital technologies are substantial, but there is also hope that advancements in these areas can be harnessed to support better information practices. Moving forward, prioritizing data access, fostering independent media, and conducting robust cross-national research will be vital in navigating and mitigating these complex issues.
"We are deeply concerned about the ways in which artificial intelligence is exacerbating existing problems in the information environment, said Professor Wendy Chun (Canada/USA), Chair of the Scientific Panel on Global Standards for AI Audits. “There is an urgent need for more transparent auditing systems to ensure AI is used responsibly and does not undermine the integrity of our information systems."
Mona Elswah (Egypt), one of the analysts behind the report, added: “We hope to guide policymakers around the world with a deeper understanding of issues they most need to pay attention to, so that they can make good decisions with evidence at hand and they can take action based on the best knowledge available today.”
Sacha Altay (France), lead author of the report added: “The report offers unique and important insights from 412 academic researchers in 66 countries across disciplines. It demonstrates an emerging consensus about the importance of evidence-based technology policy for a global information environment that is under great pressure.”
“Experts view generative AI as a double-edged sword. While it has the potential to do a lot of good, its current use may exacerbate biases and misinformation. Balancing these aspects will be crucial for the health of our information environment."
ENDS
Further details on the IPIE can be found on its website: www.IPIE.info.
For more information please contact Kathryn Chapman, Communications, Kathryn.Chapman@IPIE.info or Press@IPIE.info.
About the IPIE
The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) is an independent and global science organization committed to providing the most actionable scientific knowledge about threats to the world’s information environment. Based in Switzerland, the mission of the IPIE is to provide policymakers, industry, and civil society with independent scientific assessments on the global information environment by organizing, evaluating, and elevating research, with the broad aim of improving the global information environment. Hundreds of researchers from around the world contribute to the IPIE’s reports.
The IPIE at the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA)
The IPIE addressed information integrity at two events during UNGA:
UN Panel on Truth, Trust, and Hope in the Global Information Environment:
- Saturday, September 21, 2024, 11:15 am to 12:30 pm at UN Headquarters (CR3).
- The event was broadcast on UN WebTV. The recording can be found here: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k15/k158gk4hua.
Expert Briefing on Trust and Resilience in the Global Information Environment, at which the results of the 2024 Global Expert Survey will be announced:
- Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm at CUNY Graduate Center.
- Register on Eventbrite to attend in person or attend virtually here. Details for virtual access can be found here: https://www.ipie.info/news/ipie-trust-and-resilience-unga.
A press release on the IPIE's events during UNGA can be found here.