Global Risks Report 2026

Misinformation and disinformation are of particular concern in the online world. The integrity of online news and broader information is increasingly under threat, as distinguishing between authentic and synthetic content, whether video, audio, or written, is becoming progressively more difficult. According to a survey by the Reuters Institute, 58% of respondents globally are concerned about how to distinguish truth from falsehood in online news. This figure rises to 73% in both Africa and the United States.24 In parallel to rising concerns about misinformation and disinformation, trust in news is falling and news avoidance is rising (Figure 33). Similarly, at the country level, Misinformation and disinformation ranks second among EOS respondents in Northern America and among the top three risks in Europe and Eastern Asia, while placing within the top 10 risks in most other regions. It is the highest ranked risk in four economies, and features in the top 10 in 67 countries (Figure 34). While citizens have traditionally relied on government institutions, academia and the media to obtain and process information, widespread use of social media is reshaping the ways in which Executive perceptions of Societal polarization, 2026–2028 FIGURE 32 Source World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey 2025.Executive Opinion Survey rank of national risks from the question “Which five risks are the most likely to pose the biggest threat to your country in the next two years?” 1st10th20th30th34thRank Huma H. Yardim, Unsplash Global Risks Report 2026 34