The rapid spread of misinformation through social media and artificial intelligence poses increasing challenges for democratic societies, according to speakers at a conference held in Reykjavík on June 18.
As reported by RÚV, participants at the conference Democracy in the Age of Information Chaos examined how emerging technologies are changing the information landscape and affecting public trust in news and institutions.
What’s the Story?
- Conference examined disinformation and AI-generated content
- Social media and algorithms cited as key challenges
- Trusted journalism described as vital for democracy
Truth Crisis Threat
Skúli Bragi Geirdal of Netvís said Iceland’s relatively small population has historically helped limit the spread of false information. However, he noted that social media platforms have transformed how information circulates, making it easier for inaccurate claims to reach large audiences while also making corrections more difficult.
“We must consider these factors now to safeguard a healthy information environment,” he said.
Jón Gunnar Ólafsson, a professor at the University of Iceland, argued that the growing volume of information available online has made it increasingly difficult for people to distinguish reliable sources from misleading content. He said social media platforms and AI tools are contributing to an environment in which information is constantly generated, shared and repackaged.
“We receive enormous amounts of information through social media and use AI to gather it, and this is all becoming one tangled mess,” he said.
Role of Trusted Media
Freyja Steingrímsdóttir of the Icelandic Journalists’ Association (Blaðamannafélag Íslands) said professionally produced journalism remains an important safeguard against disinformation.
She described trusted media as a key element of national resilience and warned that financial pressures facing traditional news organisations could weaken their ability to fulfil that role.
“Trusted information matters most today, and media must maintain professional standards,” she said.
The conference focused on how governments, media organisations and the public can respond to growing concerns about misinformation, AI-generated content and declining trust in information sources.
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