According to a statement released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Wednesday, journalism is facing significant challenges from propaganda and advanced fake news, exacerbated by artificial intelligence tools and a lack of regulation from technology firms.
The organization rated the overall environment for journalism as “bad” in 70 percent of the 180 countries included in its annual assessment, with only eight countries receiving a rating of “good.”
In the 21st edition of its report, which coincides with World Press Freedom Day, Norway topped the list as the country with the best conditions for press freedom, while North Korea ranked as the worst.
This year’s findings put a particular focus on the rising tide of misinformation that threatens to obscure reliable news sources, a situation made worse by the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence.
“It is the tech industry that enables the production, dissemination, and amplification of disinformation,” RSF’s secretary-general, Christophe Deloire, stated in an interview with AFP.
He emphasized that “Reliable information is drowned in a deluge of disinformation,” highlighting a growing inability to distinguish between genuine and fabricated content.
A critical illustration of this issue is the controversial acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk in late 2022. The report critiques Musk’s introduction of a pay-for-verification system, suggesting that it promotes an extreme, arbitrary framework for accessing information.
Additionally, the report mentioned Midjourney, an AI tool capable of generating highly convincing images that contribute to the proliferation of undetectable fake visuals, such as viral images depicting Donald Trump being detained by police and an unresponsive Julian Assange in a straitjacket.
Increased Political Interference
RSF also noted a resurgence of traditional methods of political interference across various nations.
Two-thirds of the countries surveyed currently have political actors frequently engaged in expansive disinformation or propaganda initiatives, with Russia, India, and China cited as notable examples.
These activities are bolstered by a thriving disinformation industry.
RSF has lent its support to a group of investigative journalists associated with the “Forbidden Stories” project, which has uncovered the operations of Israeli firm “Team Jorge,” known for its expertise in crafting disinformation campaigns.
Besides North Korea, Vietnam, where a significant crackdown on independent journalists and commentators has been nearly completed, and China, identified as the world’s largest imprisoner of journalists, rank among the worst in the report.
India’s status declined from “problematic” to “very bad” due to increasing media acquisitions by oligarchs affiliated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as Turkey’s heightened persecution of journalists ahead of elections scheduled for May 14.
The United States dropped three places to 45th, partly due to worsening safety conditions for journalists.
Notable declines were recorded in Peru (down 33 positions to 110), Senegal (down 31 to 104), and Haiti (down 29 to 99).
Conversely, Brazil experienced a positive shift, moving up 18 spots to 92 following the exit of far-right President Jair Bolsonaro.
The Middle East and North Africa continue to be the most perilous regions for journalists, while Europe remains relatively safe, although an uptick in attacks against journalists in Germany contributed to a five-place drop in its ranking.
This comprehensive ranking is compiled using data on abuses against journalists along with numerous surveys conducted among journalists, scholars, and human rights advocates.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
