In a sobering address delivered on World Press Freedom Day, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted the significant risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and censorship to press freedom. Türk noted a troubling trend where AI is increasingly utilized by states to limit the dissemination of information, effectively becoming a tool for what he describes as the “weaponization” of disinformation.
Türk’s remarks underscore the broader implications of AI on shaping public perceptions. The deployment of AI-based algorithms that determine the information consumed by the public raises concerns about bias and manipulation. “Politicians use AI to weaponize disinformation and advance their own agendas,” he warned. Furthermore, AI is being employed to surveil journalists and their sources online, a practice that infracts upon privacy rights and has a chilling effect on journalists worldwide, with women in the profession being disproportionately affected.
To address these pressing issues, Türk called for enhanced transparency in the design and application of algorithms, as well as in the handling of data. He urged for the revision of media concentration laws to reflect the burgeoning influence of AI and technology companies, which could help cultivate a diverse media ecosystem that champions independent journalism.
The gravity of Türk’s concerns is underscored by recent metrics reported in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders. The index portrays a deteriorating landscape for global press freedom, which is now classified as facing a “difficult situation” due to both economic fragility and ongoing physical threats against media workers.
In synchronization with Türk’s observations, UN Secretary-General António Guterres voiced a similar sentiment, urging that AI be developed in line with human rights standards, prioritizing factual accuracy. Guterres drew attention to initiatives like the Global Digital Compact and the UN AI Advisory Body’s report, stressing the importance of robust governance and regulation to navigate AI’s rapid progress.
These discussions are set against a backdrop of recent incidents exacerbating challenges to press freedom, including the signing of an executive order by US President Donald Trump to withdraw federal funding from NPR and PBS, as well as the condemnation by the Committee to Protect Journalists of the detention of two journalists in Macao.
Such developments underscore the urgent need for vigilant advocacy and robust legal frameworks to safeguard the vital role of a free press in democracies worldwide.