Hardly a week goes by without a new piece of misinformation circulating online, from the freshet of conspiracy theories unleashed by the attempt on former US President Donald Trump’s life to Elon Musk tweeting the far right’s false claim that the United Kingdom has a two-tier policing policy. Truth is under attack, and people know it. According to a recent global survey conducted by the United Nations, more than 85 percent of respondents were worried about the impact of online disinformation.
The world is awash in lies and distortion largely because of the rise of social media and digital platforms. Designed to profit by maximising audience engagement, these platforms’ algorithms amplify information that attracts attention, regardless of its veracity. Moreover, negativity has been found to boost engagement, with one study showing that each additional negative word in a headline increased the click-through rate by 2.3 percent.
But another reason for our failure to combat disinformation is that the liberal tradition has prioritised freedom of expression over the right to truth. Any restrictions on free speech in the democratic world, the argument goes, would be used by dictators to justify censorship or worse.
The West’s approach to speech assumes that free and fair competition in the “marketplace of ideas” will ensure that truth triumphs over lies. But we now know that this is wrong.
Some believe that truth is now fragmented beyond repair. But many countries have strengthened institutions that are designed to seek the best available truths, and on which societies and economies often depend. Finance laws penalise falsehood and deception in accounts and public statements. Courts use sophisticated forensic tools such as DNA to make better judgments. And modern science mobilises critical peers to interrogate claims.
We now need to build on these foundations to ensure that every powerful institution provides the best available knowledge. At the heart of such an effort would be a new right to truth, which could rest upon long-established principles like the golden rule and the categorical imperative. Found in almost every civilisation, the idea of treating others as one would want to be treated by them can serve as a foundation for rebuilding the infrastructure of truth.
The first place to start is with the law. Many governments in Europe and elsewhere have strong consumer-protection laws that prohibit misleading and false claims in advertising and marketing. Knowingly spreading lies should have consequences – primarily financial, but perhaps including bans from holding public office or working in media.
Second, independent institutions that are committed to truth must be strengthened. These already exist in science, finance, health, and safety. In media, non-profit news outlets and public-service broadcasting fill this role. The key to these institutions’ success is their insulation from political and market pressures.
Third, regulation could force powerful information providers to become purveyors of truth. In July, the European Commission released its preliminary finding that Musk’s X deceives users by letting anyone pay for a verified account, and was therefore in breach of the Digital Services Act. As a result, X could face fines of up to 6 percent of global revenue.
Fourth, independent electoral commissions need powers to fact-check and correct false claims and block the most damaging misinformation or deepfakes in the run-up to elections, when truth is most vulnerable, the risk of interference is greatest, and the stakes for democracy are highest.
Fifth, the next generation must be better equipped to distinguish truth from lies. Schools should prepare young people to spot falsehoods of all kinds. Finland and Denmark are leading the way by incorporating lessons on disinformation into curricula.
Lastly, tech pioneers such as Factiverse, Fullfact in the UK, Myth Detector in Georgia, and Norway’s Faktisk Verifiserbar are developing new tools combining artificial and collective intelligence to spot and assess misinformation. These and other initiatives should be encouraged and supported.
Geoff Mulgan is a professor at University College London