Issue Information trust crisis and entrenched structural bias

Summary

Digital technology has restructured how information is produced and distributed, shifting consumption from legacy media to social media and one-person channels. Doubts about political bias, dependence on advertisers and power, and quality lost to speed competition have steadily eroded the credibility and influence of traditional outlets. Anyone can now spread information online, yet as the fact-checking role of legacy media fades, accuracy and trust decline, and fake news, deepfakes and AI-manipulated content undermine shared facts. Recommendation algorithms trap users in filter bubbles and echo chambers, intensifying confirmation bias and political polarisation until a common reality fragments. The panel warns this threatens rational debate and democratic decision-making and raises economic and administrative costs, although it also sees social media helping young people share credible information.