Active Disinformation Campaign Threatens Industry, Warns Dame Susan Langley at Risk Forum 2026

In what experts are calling an unprecedented challenge to the insurance sector, Dame Susan Langley warned that disinformation campaigns now represent one of the most significant emerging risks facing the industry. Speaking at the Risk Forum 2026, Dame Susan outlined how coordinated misinformation efforts could potentially destabilize markets and undermine consumer confidence in financial institutions.

“We’re seeing increasingly sophisticated attempts to manipulate public perception through deliberate disinformation,” Dame Susan told attendees during her keynote address. “These campaigns no longer target just political systems—they’re now being weaponized against specific industries, including insurance.”

The former Lloyd’s of London board member explained that bad actors are exploiting social media platforms and messaging apps to spread false narratives about insurance companies’ solvency, claims handling practices, and overall trustworthiness. In some cases, these campaigns appear to be designed to create market volatility or influence regulatory decisions.

Industry analysts have identified several recent instances where false information spread rapidly across digital channels, causing temporary but significant disruptions. In one example cited during the forum, a fabricated story about a major European insurer’s supposed liquidity crisis led to a 14% drop in its share price before the company could effectively respond.

“The speed at which misinformation can spread now makes traditional crisis response protocols nearly obsolete,” noted Richard Chen, Chief Risk Officer at Global Assurance Partners. “By the time a company has formulated its response, the damage may already be substantial.”

The forum, which brought together over 300 risk management professionals from across the globe, dedicated an entire session to examining how disinformation campaigns might evolve over the next five years. Security experts predict these efforts will become more targeted and technically sophisticated, potentially leveraging artificial intelligence to create convincing but entirely fabricated content.

Dame Susan emphasized that the industry must develop collective defense mechanisms rather than leaving individual companies to combat disinformation alone. “This is not a competitive issue—it’s an existential one for the entire sector,” she stated. “We need collaborative monitoring systems and rapid-response protocols that span the industry.”

Several major insurers have already begun establishing dedicated teams to monitor for early signs of disinformation campaigns. Allianz recently announced a partnership with digital forensics specialists to develop tools that can detect synthetic media and coordinated inauthentic behavior targeting financial services companies.

Regulatory bodies are also taking notice. The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) recently launched a consultation on potential frameworks to address market manipulation through disinformation. In the United States, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners has established a working group to evaluate similar concerns.

“The regulatory landscape will inevitably evolve to address these threats,” said Maria Gonzalez, a policy advisor with EIOPA who participated in a panel discussion at the forum. “The challenge is creating mechanisms that protect market stability without inhibiting legitimate information flow.”

Beyond defensive measures, Dame Susan called for proactive strategies to build public resilience against disinformation. “Insurance companies must invest in transparent communication and financial literacy initiatives,” she argued. “An informed public is less susceptible to manipulation.”

The Risk Forum also explored how insurers might develop new products to help other industries manage disinformation risks. Several attendees noted growing client demand for coverage against reputational damage stemming from targeted misinformation campaigns.

“Five years ago, this wasn’t on our radar,” admitted Jonathan Walsh, head of emerging risks at a major reinsurer. “Now it’s becoming a standard discussion in our client consultations. The demand for both protection and expertise is growing rapidly.”

As the forum concluded, participants acknowledged that combating disinformation will require unprecedented collaboration between competitors, regulators, and technology platforms. Dame Susan’s closing remarks emphasized the urgency of the situation.

“We cannot afford to be complacent about this threat,” she warned. “The industry that manages risk for others must now demonstrate it can effectively manage this risk to itself.”