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The United Nations has launched a comprehensive global survey aimed at measuring the impact of misinformation and disinformation on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative comes as part of the Global Digital Compact, which was formally agreed upon by U.N. Member States earlier this year.
Led by the United Nations Department of Global Communications (DGC), the survey will remain open until December 31, 2025, providing an extended window for participation from a wide range of stakeholders. The DGC, serving as the coordinating body for Action 35(e) of the Global Digital Compact, has designed the survey to collect valuable insights from U.N. entities, national governments, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and other relevant parties.
The Global Digital Compact represents a significant international commitment to address the challenges and opportunities of the digital age. Among its many provisions, the compact specifically calls for a thorough assessment of how false and misleading information affects global development priorities through Action 35(e).
In recent years, misinformation and disinformation have emerged as serious threats to social cohesion, democratic processes, and evidence-based policymaking worldwide. From climate change denial to health misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of false information has increasingly hampered development efforts across multiple sectors.
The survey aims to create a comprehensive catalog of existing initiatives and best practices that counter harmful information flows. By identifying what strategies are working effectively across different regions and contexts, the U.N. hopes to facilitate knowledge sharing and scale successful approaches.
“This is not just about documenting problems,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Global Communications. “We’re looking to highlight successful interventions and understand what resources and coordination mechanisms are needed to address information integrity challenges that directly impact our collective ability to achieve the SDGs by 2030.”
For participating Member States, the U.N. has indicated that relevant ministries or designated national authorities may complete the survey on behalf of their governments. This approach recognizes that different countries organize their digital governance and information integrity efforts through various institutional arrangements.
The data collected will serve multiple purposes, according to U.N. officials. Beyond cataloging current efforts and showcasing achievements, the survey will help identify critical gaps in resources, coordination, and policy frameworks. These insights will inform future policy guidance and potentially shape international cooperation in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals.
Digital misinformation represents a particular challenge for SDG implementation because of its cross-cutting nature. False narratives about climate science can undermine environmental goals, while health misinformation directly impacts public health objectives. Similarly, disinformation targeting marginalized communities can exacerbate inequalities and social divisions.
The survey comes at a time when many countries are grappling with how to balance free expression online with the need to protect their populations from harmful false information. Several nations have introduced legislation addressing digital harms, though approaches vary widely, from content moderation requirements to media literacy initiatives.
International organizations have increasingly recognized that addressing complex information ecosystem challenges requires coordinated global action and shared learning. This U.N. initiative represents one of the most comprehensive attempts to date to understand the specific intersections between information integrity and sustainable development.
Stakeholders interested in participating can access the survey through the link provided by the United Nations: https://forms.office.com/e/x6qBNY6cXp
The extended timeline—with submissions accepted through the end of 2025—suggests the U.N. is taking a deliberate approach to this assessment, allowing for the collection of longitudinal data and the evolution of both challenges and responses over time.
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10 Comments
This is an important initiative to better understand how misinformation undermines the Sustainable Development Goals. Collecting data from a wide range of stakeholders will provide valuable insights to address this critical challenge.
I agree, misinformation poses a serious threat to global development progress. A thorough assessment is needed to identify effective solutions.
The Global Digital Compact’s focus on measuring the impact of misinformation is timely and necessary. Disinformation campaigns have far-reaching consequences, and this survey could uncover critical insights.
Absolutely. Better data on the scale and effects of misinformation is crucial to developing targeted interventions and policies.
As someone with an interest in the mining and commodities sector, I’m curious to see if the survey examines how misinformation impacts public perceptions and investment decisions in these industries.
That’s a good point. Misinformation can certainly sway public sentiment and market trends for mining, energy, and other commodity-related equities.
The extended survey timeline until 2025 suggests the UN recognizes this as an ongoing, complex challenge. Collecting data over several years will likely provide a more comprehensive understanding.
Agreed, a multi-year approach is sensible given the evolving nature of misinformation and its impacts. Longitudinal data will be invaluable.
It will be interesting to see how the survey findings might inform future policymaking and collaborative efforts to counter the spread of false and misleading information. A data-driven approach is critical.
Absolutely. Evidence-based solutions are essential to effectively addressing the global misinformation crisis and protecting sustainable development progress.