By Lucy Marx, Senior Expert, INCAS
Pervasive and powerful, disinformation is one of the most pressing global challenges of our time. For the second year in a row, it was identified as the top short-term risk by the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risks Report 2025. It is an urgent issue not just because it undermines facts, but because it erodes the trust and social cohesion necessary for any form of meaningful progress—governance, cooperation, and especially peace. Finding ways to counter its harmful impacts remains an urgent priority.
A recent report by the Berghof Foundation highlights how peacebuilders can play a decisive role in addressing the harms of disinformation. The report outlines how tools from the peacebuilding field—mediation, conflict resolution, reconciliation, and storytelling—can help individuals and societies build resilience against harmful narratives. But for this to really work, an integrated approach needs to be applied, combining peacebuilding techniques with policy efforts and the effective use of technology.
Our work at INCAS aligns strongly with these insights. We support conflict resolution and social impact through a foundation of rigorous, contextual analysis and effective communication. Our efforts include social listening systems to monitor and counter misinformation, dialogue processes to foster social cohesion, and long-term research across peace and security domains.
Understanding disinformation as a system
To effectively address disinformation, we must first understand what it is—and what it is not. It is more than just the spread of false information. The report stresses that disinformation is structural and systemic. It is often produced with intent to harm, and then shared more widely by individuals who may not intend to deceive at all.
This is where the distinction between misinformation and disinformation becomes important. The former may be shared in error; the latter is created and deployed with malign intent—often to destabilise societies or deepen division.
Yet, studies show that most disinformation spreads not through malicious users, but through everyday digital behavior. People share emotionally charged content to stay connected, express outrage, or reinforce their social identity online. In many cases, emotional content outpaces even verified news in terms of reach. Addressing disinformation must therefore involve more than stopping the source—it requires transforming the social and emotional conditions that allow it to spread.
Where peacebuilding comes in
Peacebuilding offers an integrated and human-centered approach to addressing these conditions.
Unlike approaches that focus solely on technical solutions, peacebuilders start from a broader view: that peace is not just the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, inclusion, and understanding. Drawing on a wide array of skills, peacebuilders can:
This work is both preventative and transformative, shaping environments that are more resilient to disinformation in the first place.
Examples in practice
The Berghof Foundation report highlights several practical examples of how these approaches are working on the ground.
Key takeaways for the sector
These examples show what is possible when peacebuilding is combined with innovation and collaboration. But the report also reminds us that for peacebuilders to succeed in countering disinformation, several factors are essential:
The report identifies two key challenges that need urgent attention: the growing role of artificial intelligence in amplifying disinformation, and the chronic underfunding of long-term disinformation response efforts.
The report offers five strategic recommendations:
As the disinformation landscape evolves, so must our responses. At INCAS, we are committed to using communication as a tool for peace—and to ensuring that our work remains rooted in facts, empathy, and inclusion.