How AI can help combat mis- and disinformation about migration

Migration is a cornerstone of global development and human progress, representing a major global strategic asset. But it is often shrouded in misconceptions and misrepresentations. This International Migrants Day, 18 December 2024, don’t let disinformation erode your confidence in the benefits of migration.

International migration is an essential part of our modern, increasingly globalized world. Migrants and diaspora contribute more to development finance than any other group of state and non-state actors by sending money back home. These remittances to low- and middle-income countries stood at more than $650 billion in 2023, outstripping official development assistance and foreign direct investment.

Many of those sending remittances live in OECD countries – by 2023 the number of international migrants living in OECD countries had surpassed 150 million. Migration flows reached new highs during 2023, when 6.5 million people migrated to OECD countries. This was a 28% increase on pre-pandemic levels.

Migrants shape economies, contributing to labour markets, entrepreneurship, innovation and cultural diversity. Over the past decade, migrant entrepreneurs alone have created nearly four million jobs across OECD countries.

But despite such positive impacts, migration is a topic that’s frequently used to evoke fear or division. Disinformation campaigns exploit societal anxieties, amplifying false narratives that undermine trust and erode confidence in the complex phenomenon of migration.

The World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risk Report ranked disinformation as the top immediate threat currently facing the world. The harsh reality highlighted in the risk report is that mis- and disinformation are key features of the discourses on some of the most pressing global challenges facing the world today, including climate change, environmental degradation and human displacement and migration.

New technology such as AI could be used to help combat disinformation, so the world can instead see migration as a global strategic asset. This will mean embracing AI’s potential for good in combating disinformation and leveraging accurate information at scale.

In today’s interconnected digital world, AI plays a pivotal role in both spreading and combating misinformation. It is revolutionizing the way information is created and disseminated, particularly in discussions about migration.

On one side, generative AI (genAI) technologies can be weaponized to produce and spread disinformation rapidly. False statistics, sensational narratives and deep-seated stereotypes can take root in public discourse, influencing perceptions and policies.

Conversely, genAI also offers solutions to counter misinformation. Advanced algorithms and machine learning systems can identify patterns indicative of disinformation, flagging false narratives before they gain momentum. Collaborative efforts between technologists, policymakers and civil society are critical to maximizing these tools’ potential as ways to spot disinformation rather than spread it.

The amplification effect of AI can also be harnessed to foster accurate narratives about migration. Efforts to train large language models (LLMs) on reliable data, including through partnerships between domain experts and tech companies, demonstrate the potential of technology to promote truth. AI tools are already being used to refine and fact-check migration-related content, for instance, creating opportunities to dispel myths and encourage more informed dialogue.

Beyond these partnerships, improving the integrity of migration discourse requires a multifaceted approach that also involves the development and implementation of regulatory frameworks designed to combat disinformation. This is not an easy endeavor, however. European Union regulation has led the way with its AI Act, which is set to come into force in 2026. But attempts to introduce similar regulations have failed in other parts of the world, including Australia's recent withdrawal of its Misinformation Bill.

Actively facilitating and promoting media and digital literacy is also central to building community resilience to mis- and disinformation. The production and dissemination of accurate, balanced information on migration and migrants is also essential. For example, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) World Migration Report has been used on social media to combat xenophobic disinformation with fact-based analysis.

Migration remains a vital engine of progress, driving innovation, addressing labour shortages and enriching societies. It can help meet the needs of individual economies and societies, as well as driving human development globally. We should tackle mis- and disinformation campaigns about migration all year round, but International Migrants Day provides a good opportunity to talk about how and why this is important.

Safeguarding this global strategic asset will require a constellation of actions, including embracing AI’s potential for good in combating disinformation and leveraging accurate information at scale. The journey toward truth in migration discourse is challenging, but it is achievable with the right tools, partnerships and commitment to global peace and prosperity for all.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of IOM or any other organizations with which the author is affiliated.