Companies operating in today’s global economy face a multitude of risks, including the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation. In this episode of the Riskology Podcast, Dr. Ian Oxnevad and Chris Mason delve into the topic of misinformation and disinformation through the lens of the recent Davos conference. They explore the impact of these risks on businesses, the importance of active defense strategies, and the need for companies to be prepared to counter disinformation campaigns. With the evolving geopolitical landscape, it is crucial for companies to understand and navigate these risks to protect their bottom line and reputation.

Infortal Worldwide is a global risk management and investigation firm that specializes in helping businesses navigate complex risk landscapes. The company’s focus extends to various areas, including economics, politics, and geopolitical risk. By delving into these interconnected realms, Infortal Worldwide aims to provide clients with comprehensive insights that empower them to make informed decisions, especially in critical areas such as mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, and other strategic moves.

You’ll hear Ian and Chris discuss:

• Disinformation is the deliberate use of lying to sway a population, while misinformation is inaccurate information that spreads organically. Understanding the distinction is crucial in addressing the intent behind false information and developing appropriate strategies to combat its effects.
• Misinformation and disinformation are identified as the number one risk on the World Economic Forum’s list of key fundamental risks to look at over a two-year horizon. This highlights the growing concern over the spread of false information and its potential impact on societies, elections, and businesses worldwide.
• Disinformation and misinformation are not going away and will continue to impact media consumers, policymakers, and investors. With the rise of social media and emerging technologies, false information can spread rapidly, leading to confusion, manipulation, and erosion of trust in institutions.
• The year of the election is highlighted as a significant time for disinformation and misinformation campaigns, with major elections happening in Mexico, the US, the UK, India, Indonesia, and Russia. The immediate impact of AI tools and the potential for foreign interference make it crucial to address these threats to ensure fair and informed elections.
• AI tools have made it easier for anyone to run their own disinformation campaigns, posing a significant threat to elections and public perception. The accessibility of these tools amplifies the potential for manipulation, requiring increased vigilance and countermeasures to protect the integrity of democratic processes.
• Disinformation and misinformation can have a massive impact on markets and a business’s reputation, leading to stock price crashes, media scandals, and lawsuits. The ability of false information to shape public perception and consumer behavior highlights the need for companies to actively defend against and counter false narratives.
• Companies need to have an active defense against disinformation and misinformation, constantly monitoring and countering false narratives through press releases, investor reports, and social media presence. Proactive measures are necessary to protect a company’s reputation, maintain stakeholder trust, and mitigate potential financial and legal consequences.

Key Quotes:

“Disinformation, it’s not usually in isolation. It’s usually over time…  you create a big enough lie, you repeat it over and over and over again. Pretty soon you own that narrative, even though that narrative is based on absolutely nothing.” – Ian

“Disinformation and misinformation are not going to go away as problems. They’re still going to be here 10 years from now because of social media. It’s just going to be a fact of everyday life for media consumers, policymakers and investors.” – Ian

“No matter how strong your defenses are, a disinformation campaign can still appear suddenly. It can come out of nowhere. It can really catch you off guard. And really, once that happens, it becomes an art of communication and public affairs in terms of how your company’s planning to respond.” – Chris

Resources:

Infortal Worldwide

Email

Dr. Ian Oxnevad on LinkedIn

Chris Mason on LinkedIn