The Infodemic
Knowledge, if accurate, is powerful and empowering. However, access to timely, actionable and verified information is becoming increasingly challenging.
The term ‘infodemic’ was coined in 2003 during the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in reference to the ‘information epidemic’ compounding the public health crisis.1 Since then, the volume of information on the internet has massively ballooned and is increasing daily.
Misinformation Vs Disinformation & Its Impact
- Misinformation is false or inaccurate information without the intention to deceive.
- Disinformation, on the other hand, is deliberately false information intended to mislead.
Although they differ in intent, both have damaging impacts on people, organisations, economies, governments, and society at large. The Doomsday Clock’s Science and Security Board warns that the world is “the closest it has ever been to catastrophe”. In part due to “the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories that degrade the communication ecosystem and increasingly blur the line between truth and falsehood” and a “battered information landscape”.2
Although there is increasing legislation to counter false information, this does not eliminate the need for extensive fact-checking. Such legislation is outpaced by the speed of technological advancements that are used in disinformation campaigns. Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has enabled anyone to rapidly and easily create deepfake content, making it potentially dangerous to accept and verify the facts we see and hear.
Case Studies of Mis and Disinformation
1. Samoa Measles Outbreak
In 2019, Samoa faced a severe measles outbreak that was significantly worsened by widespread vaccine misinformation. False claims about the safety and efficacy of vaccines, some of which were attributed to a prominent anti-vaccine advocate, contributed to deepening the public health crisis. The crisis peaked with over 5,700 reported cases and 83 deaths, primarily affecting children. False narratives about vaccines were amplified by misinformation on social media and other platforms, further eroding trust in response and immunisation efforts.
2. Fukushima Nuclear Accident
Other examples of dangerous ‘alternative truths’ in the medical realm include the Fukushima nuclear accident of 2011, which saw the false belief that iodised salt could protect against nuclear fallout, causing supermarket shelves to be emptied. This resurfaced in 2023 as Japan announced it would release treated wastewater from the site.
3. West Africa Ebola Outbreak
In the West Africa Ebola outbreak of 2014, some people died from drinking salt water, thinking it could prevent or cure the disease. Not only does misinformation lead to loss of life by delaying or discouraging proven medical care, but it also increases the likelihood of larger and longer outbreaks.
4. New Zealand Deepfake Video
In late 2024, a deepfake video appeared online, showing a leading New Zealand endocrinologist advising people with diabetes to purchase a “natural product” and abandon their prescribed medication. People who trusted this disinformation may have suffered serious health complications.
Travel Health Requirements
Less harmful to health, but unfortunately, common examples of misinformation relate to health requirements for travel. Declarations, vaccinations, and health clearances required for entry vary not only by destination and country of origin but also by visa type and duration of travel. In addition, the requirements are constantly changing. Many travel websites will have conflicting information, media reporting can echo incorrect information, and even consulates and embassies can be delayed in reflecting changes to requirements. Should travellers get the requirements wrong, they can be subjected to vaccination at the point of entry or denied entry and sent back immediately.
Security Implications
From a security perspective, the global information landscape is becoming increasingly volatile. Social media’s growing popularity has democratised the information landscape by breaking the monopoly of traditional news sources. However, it has also led to a surge of unverified information and propaganda, which on several occasions has incited unrest and violence. The unrest following the stabbings in Southport (England, UK) in July 2024 is a key example in this regard. On 29 July 2024, three children were killed, and ten people were injured in a stabbing incident in Southport. The authorities announced the arrest of a 17-year-old boy in connection with the incident. Following the incident, both mis and disinformation circulated on social media, falsely claiming the perpetrator was a Muslim asylum seeker. This misinformation resonated with pre-existing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim sentiments, leading to widespread protests. Immigration centres, mosques, and asylum-seeker accommodations were targeted in major cities, including Manchester, Rotherham and Liverpool, during these demonstrations.
The increased reach and volume of mis and disinformation will have serious second-order security implications by exacerbating pre-existing xenophobia, ethnic and religious sectarianism, political polarisation, geopolitical tensions and social discontent. This puts individuals of specific profiles, particularly those of minority nationalities, sexualities and religions, at increased risk, particularly while travelling or living abroad. This can manifest as aggression against people perceived to be foreign nationals and interests associated with certain nationalities. Such aggressive behaviour highlights the intersection of misinformation and criminal activity, where false narratives about certain profiles can embolden criminal groups to commit acts of violence.
Government Control of Information
Contrasting the extreme democratisation of the information landscape is the trend of governments controlling the flow of information. Governments can employ various tactics, including surveillance of online activities, restricting access to certain websites, manipulating media narratives and imposing total communication blackouts. An example of this occurred during Venezuela’s July 2024 election, when the Venezuelan government, under President Nicolás Maduro, imposed severe online restrictions designed to suppress opposition voices and limit access to independent reporting. Disinformation campaigns (whether led by state actors, non-state actors or foreign players) can pose a significant threat to electoral integrity. The delicate balance between the open exchange of information and governmental oversight in the digital realm is thus growing increasingly precarious.
Future of Mis and Disinformation
The proliferation of misinformation and disinformation in the digital space will persist and become even more personalised to its targets in the coming years. The increasingly sophisticated nature of disinformation campaigns will allow false or fabricated information to evade detection. In early 2025, this was compounded by sweeping announcements that major social media networks would be moving away from fact-checkers to a community-based approach. As a result, individual consumers, organisations and governments will need to invest greater resources to verify information for decision-making.
Every piece of information should be assessed for reliability before forming an opinion or acting.
Tips for Assessing Information
- Establish a methodology to monitor and validate information.
- Ensure information is current – confirm the date and time.
- Verify the source – be cautious of sources that have no track record and those that are uncontactable.
- Cross-reference – identify any sources that are being quoted. Use reverse image and video search. Corroborate information with trusted independent experts and utilise fact-checking resources.
How International SOS Can Help
For almost 40 years, International SOS has been at the forefront of supporting the health, safety, and wellbeing of our clients' workforce across the globe. Our Travel Risk Management Solution, Workforce Resilience Subscription, Security and Medical Consulting and EventSafe services stand by to support your workforce anytime, anywhere. We care for more than 9,000 clients globally from over 1,200 locations in 90 countries. Our Assistance Centres are staffed by doctors and nurses, security experts, multi-lingual coordinators, and logistics support personnel who speak over 110 languages and dialects. We can respond rapidly to any emergency or call for assistance.