Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister highlighted the rising threat of disinformation, particularly from foreign sources, during the Epiphany Conference organized by the Swiss Media Association. He emphasized that 85% of the Swiss population views social media as a primary source of fake news, making the country vulnerable to manipulation, especially by pro-Russian actors. Pfister noted that misinformation campaigns are designed to divide society, and he underscored the importance of a free and trustworthy media to combat these efforts.
He advocated for educational initiatives to help citizens critically assess information while warning against state-sponsored propaganda. The role of artificial intelligence in amplifying disinformation was also a concern, as it complicates the media’s ability to provide accurate reporting. Despite these challenges, studies suggest that the Swiss populace is somewhat resilient to misinformation due to a robust media landscape and strong community ties. Pfister and experts agree that the defense against fake news relies on maintaining independent and reliable media sources.
