There was a recent quote from Axios’ Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen from the “Behind the Curtain” column that reads: “Your reality is formed from what you read, see, listen to, and experience. It’s no longer shaped mainly by the news.”
"Fake news" became Word of the Year in 2017. Since then, it no longer feels like a meme.
The dangers of false information have risen to the top of the global risk agenda. Take the chaos in Minneapolis. Fueled by AI and eroding trust in the media, these threats now pose serious challenges to social stability and democracy.
The WEF Global Risks Report has been monitoring this shift for years. In 2013, the report predicted digital connectivity could spark "digital wildfires." By 2025, mis- and disinformation ranked as the 4th-highest long-term global risk.
Reputation leaders recognize the danger, too. In a Reputation Leaders Ltd. survey on the 2026 reputation risks they planned to focus on, both US and UK reputation leaders listed disinformation (along with cyberattacks, data breaches, and an economic recession).
The question we’re asking: How, why, and where is disinformation happening, and what are the costs?
In this edition, we’ll dive into takeaways from Signal AI’s 2026 Impact Report: ‘Velocity of Disinformation’.
Deepfake fraud attempts spiked over 3,000% in recent years
Generative AI makes it easier to create hyper-realistic deepfakes, sophisticated phishing schemes, and coordinated disinformation campaigns—at scale. Deepfake fraud attempts spiked by over 3,000% in recent years. By 2026, the volume of deepfake content is projected to increase exponentially.
Deepfakes aren’t the only threat. They fall under the broader umbrella of synthetic media (media created or modified by AI). While deepfakes are the most well-known example, they are part of a spectrum of manipulated content that ranges from "high-tech" AI generation to "low-tech" editing.
Not all false information is created equal. (The report here defines seven types.) To protect brand reputation in 2026, organizations must distinguish between accidental errors and coordinated attacks.
Social media took up 60% of the ‘online misinformation’ discourse. The most-discussed platforms were Instagram, Facebook, and X
In previous decades, a rumor took days to circulate. Today, it’s estimated that 1.1 billion pieces of content are published daily on social media.
Misinformation is pervasive across the digital landscape, but particularly in social media feeds. 74% of internet users report frequently encountering it there. Intensity varies by platform: Facebook users appear most exposed, with 42% seeing questionable content almost every time they use the app, compared to 22% of Instagram users.
Skepticism is also high on X/Twitter, where only 16% of users consider news content to be accurate. Yet, the issue extends beyond social networks. 60% of people globally believe that traditional news organizations also regularly report false stories, creating an "infodemic" that spans both new and old media.
The defining characteristic of this new era is velocity. Bad news travels fast, but fake news travels faster.
The business cost of brand trust erosion, fake reviews, & disinformation totals over $100 billion annually
A single false rumor regarding a CEO’s health, a product recall, or an ESG violation can trigger automated sell-offs—all before a communications team can draft a winning crisis communications plan.
A 2019 study estimated the annual cost of fake news at $78 billion globally. Adjusted for the post-2024 explosion in Generative AI, the financial stakes have only compounded.
The 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals that society is sliding into "insularity," with70% of respondents hesitant to trust those with different views.
Around 7 in 10 U.S. adults now say they have little or no confidence in mainstream news media, with Republican trust falling into single digits (8%) and independents near historic lows. Longer-term trend data show that the share of Americans who say they have no trust at all in mass media has risen from about 6% in the early 1970s to more than one-third since 2020.
In this low-trust environment, false narratives take root faster and are harder to dislodge.
Final thoughts: A dangerous gap
Disinformation has transformed into a critical corporate risk that directly targets a company's most valuable intangible asset: its reputation. This threat is fueled by a digital environment where 63% of the population cannot distinguish truth from falsehood, and 88% believe hoaxes are intentionally designed to sabotage organizational images.
While 98% of professionals identify misinformation as a primary threat, a dangerous gap persists. 55% of companies lack formal programs to manage these crises.
Beyond social instability, these attacks cause tangible economic damage, including stock market volatility and significant declines in income statements. Explore more insights in the full report, here.
Now what?
You make critical decisions every day as a business leader. That’s why you need trusted data to help you build a more informed strategy and make more confident business decisions.
Signal AI helps you map your next move by delivering market trend analysis that highlights both hidden business risks and whitespace opportunities, giving you the foresight to shape your long-term plan.Get Signal in the Noise in your Inbox
Resource Round-Up
Resources
- https://www.theguardian.com/books/2017/nov/02/fake-news-is-very-real-word-of-the-year-for-2017
- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/technology/minneapolis-ai-disinformation-misinformation-truth.html?utm_campaign=mkb&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/values-risks-company-country-original-ceo-activism-weeks-alan-chumley-l8zje/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/technology/moltbook-ai-social-media.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_nn_20260203&instance_id=170521&nl=the-morning®i_id=85670781&segment_id=214710&user_id=c2c4654e9a19bbdb5d55b27c8730c7c5
- https://www.marketingbrew.com/stories/2025/12/10/ai-alternative-realism-behind-the-scenes-marketing?mbcid=43960336.231210&mblid=ce9efbdcc1b8&mid=945a23f57c55290da624e6065fe64e0d&utm_campaign=mkb&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=morning_brew