The World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos, themed Collaboration for the Intelligent Age, brought together world leaders at a time when risks to democracy are escalating.
The WEF’s Global Risks Report 2025 starkly highlights the urgency of this moment: perceived risks from misinformation and disinformation continue to grow, again identified as the biggest threats to society over the next two years. Rapid advancements in AI will only amplify these threats. These dangers are not abstract or futuristic; they are present and pervasive.
Democracy at Risk: Misinformation and AI Threaten Truth in the Smart Age
Two powerful forces are exacerbating these risks. Governments are increasingly cracking down on press freedom, seeking to control or marginalize organizations like public service broadcasters whose independence they perceive as a threat.
Simultaneously, some tech leaders who claim to champion free speech preside over platforms where truth is often buried under a torrent of unchecked outrage and amplification. In a world where fact-checking is presented as an impediment to free speech, those seeking to corrupt and manipulate public information flows are thriving.
A Crisis of Free Speech and Trust
Free speech is more than a principle; it’s integral to the democratic process. However, it comes with responsibilities. The right to speak freely is not a right to incite hatred, to defame, or to spread lies. Those seeking to undermine democratic institutions are increasingly weaponizing unrestricted free speech, even though it is a cornerstone of democracy.
Social media has undoubtedly had positive impacts on society. However, recent experience paints a worrying picture. An algorithmic world, lacking checks and balances, favors extremes, the loudest voices, and shrewd or wealthy manipulators, whether individuals or state actors. It also grants unprecedented power to those who control the algorithms themselves.
IIn a world where some of the most powerful leaders challenge even the concept of truth, how can we ensure citizens access reliable, unbiased information? The answer to this question will determine the future of our democracies.
The Collaboration for the Intelligent Age must prioritize not just technological advancement, but also the preservation of truth and the strengthening of democratic values in the face of these emerging threats.
Public Broadcasters: Guardians of Truth in the Age of AI
The World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos highlighted the growing threat of misinformation and AI-driven disinformation. While not the sole guardians of truth, public service media (PSM) play a vital role, now more critical than ever.
People across Europe consider PSM the most trusted news source in 91% of countries, and they remain the continent’s largest investors in quality news and information Our members spend approximately €6 billion annually on news and employ over 45,000 journalists.
From ARD Faktenfinder in Germany to RTBF Faky in Belgium, BBC Verify in United Kingdom, Vrai ou Faux in France, and many others, PSM continue to invest heavily in fact-checking while others retreat. We must defend and protect this role from government interference and voracious AI news aggregators who feed off others’ work without attribution, oversight, or financial compensation.
The Need for Regulation
At present, regulation is often labeled as outdated and regressive, disconnected from modern technological advancements. But who is writing this narrative? It’s not the public struggling to discern truth from falsehood online. It’s not those who believe in democratic elections free from foreign manipulation. Nor is it those who invest in content only to see it exploited for profit without their consent.
Europe has the Digital Services Act and the European Media Freedom Act, offering empowerment and protection if properly enforced. We cannot abandon these safeguards based on developments elsewhere.
A Call for Collaboration
Collaboration is key. Defenders of press freedom, investors in quality content, and believers in accountability and transparency – whether in public, commercial, or civil society media – must work together to combat shared threats.
The European Broadcasting Union is committed to fostering these discussions. The alternative, as a prominent journalist recently warned, is a fact-free world. If we wait too long, that reality will be upon us.
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