Disinformation is no longer just a social media issue. According to a recent analysis by The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, this phenomenon acts as a “riskmultiplier.” Today, data manipulation worsens real dangers like climate change, pandemics, and nuclear threats.
The report argues that the spread of fake news destroys trust in science and democracies. Whencitizens stop believing in institutions, crisis management becomes impossible. Furthermore, disinformation delays urgent actions, such as the transition to clean energy, by creating artificial debates over proven facts.
On the other hand, technology plays a critical role in this scenario. The use of Artificial Intelligence to createdeepfakes and automated campaigns fragments our perception of reality. This constant confusion increasesthe chances of military miscalculations. Consequently, an information misunderstanding could lead to a large-scale armed conflict.
Finally, the analysis concludes that recovering the truthis an absolute priority. Without a healthy informationecosystem, societies will not be able to solve theirmost serious problems. Therefore, it is urgent to strengthen media literacy and regulate digital platformsto protect the integrity of public discourse.
Reference
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. (2026, March 12). Introduction: Disinformation as a multiplier of existentialthreat. The Bulletin. https://thebulletin.org/premium/2026-03/introduction-disinformation-as-a-multiplier-of-existential-threat/