Social media and AI amplify hate, fuels worst human impulses: UN chief

Unregulated social media platforms and artificial intelligence are fueling the worst human impulses, spreading hate speech and misinformation at unprecedented speeds, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Tuesday.

Speaking at the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) in Cascais, Portugal, Guterres called for decisive action to curb the rapid dissemination of disinformation and online hate.

"Unchecked digital platforms and artificial intelligence have enabled hate speech to spread with a speed and reach previously unimaginable," Guterres said during a session focused on combating hate. He emphasized that such content often escalates to violence, with digital tools acting as megaphones for humanity's darker tendencies.

Highlighting the dangers of advanced digital technologies, Guterres pointed to the rise of deepfakes, which make fabricated or unverified information appear credible instantly. He said this phenomenon, coupled with widespread misinformation, has fueled harmful bigotry, including anti-Semitism, anti-Muslim sentiment, and attacks on minority Christian groups.

"Social media and artificial intelligence provide a new medium for age-old tactics of spreading hate," Guterres explained, stressing the need for international cooperation to counter these threats.

The UNAOC, established to foster cultural diversity, religious pluralism, and mutual respect, hosted world leaders, ministers, and international organization heads for this year’s forum, running from November 25 to 27.

In addition to addressing online hate, Guterres reiterated his calls for peace in global conflict zones, including Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, and Sudan.