UN Warns AI Misuse in Advertising Fuels Disinformation, Hate Speech
The United Nations has warned that the misuse of artificial intelligence in advertising is accelerating the spread of disinformation, hate speech and fraud, raising concerns over a growing global crisis in information integrity.
In a working paper titled “Strengthening Information Integrity: Advertising, Artificial Intelligence and the Global Information Crisis,” the UN Department of Global Communications highlighted a widening gap between the rapid adoption of AI technologies and the lack of governance frameworks to manage their impact.
The report finds that AI is amplifying information risks, including disinformation and hate speech, while advertising revenues continue to fund content regardless of its accuracy or potential harm. It also points to increasing opacity in AI-driven media buying, contributing to fraud and inefficiencies, and warns that the rise of AI-generated content threatens the sustainability of independent journalism.
“Advertising funds the systems that help shape what people see, trust and believe,” said Charlotte Scaddan, UN Senior Adviser on Information Integrity.
“Without swift action and guardrails, AI risks accelerating the breakdown of information ecosystem integrity. Advertisers have the power to help fix it.”
The UN document stresses that advertisers hold significant leverage through their spending decisions, with global advertising expenditure exceeding $1 trillion annually. It notes that brands can influence industry standards by demanding greater transparency and accountability from platforms, AI developers and media partners.
The report calls on policymakers to align governance frameworks for AI and advertising with international standards on information integrity and to work with industry and civil society to improve transparency across the digital advertising ecosystem.
It also urges advertisers to ensure transparency throughout AI and advertising supply chains, prioritize high-quality media environments and set clear standards for how ads appear in AI-generated content.
The UN warns that without coordinated action, the continued integration of AI into advertising systems could deepen the global information crisis and undermine trust in media and digital platforms.
