AI Advertising Risks Deepen the Global Misinformation Crisis

A new issue brief from the United Nations Department of Global Communications and the Conscious Advertising Network warns that the rapid and largely unregulated adoption of artificial intelligence in the advertising industry could significantly deepen a global information integrity crisis. The report, titled Strengthening Information Integrity: Advertising, Artificial Intelligence and the Global Information Crisis, argues that advertising sits at the core of the digital information ecosystem because its spending decisions determine which content is amplified, monetized, and ultimately sustained online. As AI tools become more deeply embedded in media buying and content creation, the report says these dynamics are being accelerated in ways that current governance frameworks are not prepared to manage.

At the center of the concern is the growing scale and speed at which AI is reshaping how information spreads online. The brief finds that AI is intensifying systemic risks such as the spread of disinformation, hate speech, and polarizing content. These risks are compounded by the fact that advertising revenue continues to fund online content regardless of its accuracy, quality, or social impact. At the same time, AI-driven media buying is becoming increasingly opaque, raising concerns about fraud, inefficiency, and a lack of accountability across the digital advertising supply chain. The rise of AI-generated content also adds pressure to independent journalism, with the report warning that reduced viability for news organizations could weaken media plurality and trust in information sources.

The consequences, the brief emphasizes, are not limited to society at large but extend directly into business performance. As audiences lose trust in digital environments filled with low-quality or misleading content, engagement with advertising declines, reducing campaign effectiveness and return on investment. In this way, declining information integrity becomes both a societal challenge and a commercial risk for brands. Charlotte Scaddan, Senior Adviser on Information Integrity at the UN, noted that advertising funds the systems that shape public understanding, warning that without swift action and stronger guardrails, AI could accelerate the breakdown of trust in the information ecosystem. She also stressed that advertisers hold significant power to help address the issue.

Despite these risks, the report highlights that the advertising industry is uniquely positioned to influence the future development of AI systems. With global advertising spending exceeding $1 trillion annually, brands have substantial leverage to demand higher standards from platforms, AI developers, and media partners. The brief argues that this influence is particularly important at a time when AI-based advertising models are expanding, increasing the role of automated systems in determining what content is funded and seen.

To address these challenges, the report calls on advertisers to demand greater transparency across AI and advertising supply chains, prioritize high-quality media environments, and support independent journalism. It also encourages setting clear standards for how and where ads appear within AI-generated content, as well as using commercial influence to push platforms toward stronger safeguards. Evidence cited in the brief suggests that improving transparency in media buying can also improve performance, with potential double-digit gains in return on ad spend, reinforcing the idea that responsible practices can align with business goals.

Harriet Kingaby of the Conscious Advertising Network emphasized that while brands are under pressure to adopt AI quickly, doing so without safeguards risks undermining the very environments their marketing depends on. She framed the moment as a turning point, arguing that advertisers can either contribute to the problem or help build a more transparent and trustworthy digital ecosystem. The brief also calls on policymakers to align AI governance with international standards on information integrity, working alongside industry and civil society to ensure accountability and resilience in the evolving digital landscape.

Work Cited

"AI and Refugees Concept Illustration.” United Nations, https://www.un.org/sites/un2.un.org/files/gi-ai-refugees.jpg. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

“Artificial Intelligence Advertising Concept Image.” Sanity CDN, https://cdn.sanity.io/images/3tzzh18d/production/82b634baec91a76acba4a5c40d49c0d2bdfa6439-1200x675.png. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.

“AI Adoption Is Surging in Advertising, but Is the Industry Prepared for Responsible AI?” IAB, 21 Aug. 2025, https://www.iab.com/insights/ai-adoption-is-surging-in-advertising-but-is-the-industry-prepared-for-responsible-ai/.

“UN and Conscious Advertising Network Warn Brands Face Growing Business Risk as AI Adoption in Advertising Deepens Global Information Integrity Crisis.” Roastbrief, https://roastbrief.us/un-and-conscious-advertising-network-warn-brands-face-growing-business-risk-as-ai-adoption-in-advertising-deepens-global-information-integrity-crisis/.

“UN Warns AI Ads May Fuel Misinformation Crisis.” Mirage News, https://www.miragenews.com/un-warns-ai-ads-may-fuel-misinformation-crisis-1664412/.