Global survey: 85% of people concerned about online disinformation

More than 85% of people are worried about the impact of online disinformation and 87% believe it has already harmed their country’s politics, according to a global survey, as the United Nations announced a plan to tackle the phenomenon.

Across all 16 countries surveyed, 68% of respondents said social media was where fake news was most widespread, ahead of messaging apps (38%), a belief “overwhelmingly prevalent in all countries, age groups, social backgrounds and political preferences”.

UNESCO says it is developing a plan based on seven key human rights principles which provide guidelines designed to inform and inspire governments and regulators to promote transparency and reliability of information.