AI Misinformation Threatens Public Trust, Prompting Calls for Transparency and Responsible Journalism

A Malwarebytes survey of 1,500 respondents in Austria, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States found that 88 % say it has become harder to tell whether online content is genuine or AI‑generated, up from 66 % a year earlier. Participants also reported increased difficulty spotting AI‑crafted scams and highlighted a rise in personalized phishing attempts using generative technologies.

In response, the European Commission released a voluntary Code of Practice urging developers to label AI‑created or significantly modified content, ahead of mandatory transparency rules under the EU AI Act expected in early August. Executive Vice‑President Henna Virkkunen emphasized citizens’ right to know the origin of digital information.

Separately, Nilo Divina, dean of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, warned that AI can produce convincing fake photographs, videos, legal arguments and fabricated news, underscoring the need for responsible journalism. He called on media outlets to prioritize verification, truth and accountability, and raised legal questions about liability, ownership of AI‑generated works and the admissibility of fabricated evidence.