Rethinking Misinformation, Health and Human Security

Misinformation and disinformation have been ranked by the World Economic Forum and United Nations as top global risks, above extreme weather, armed conflict, and cyber warfare. Their impact on health is severe and growing – from suspended clinical trials and the disruption of vaccination and other health programmes, to climate science denialism and the systematic erosion of trust in health institutions. Yet current response frameworks remain largely reactive and narrowly focused on correcting false information, when the most damaging narratives often operate through emotional manipulation, fear polarisation, undermining of trust, and distortion of perceived social norms - not explicit falsehoods. The Lancet Commission on “Rethinking Misinformation, Health and Human Security” will reframe the dominant understanding of misinformation and operationalise the concept of ‘signal distortion’ as an actionable framework and develop and test ways of intervening to enrich the integrity of the information ecosystem – identifying where and how to intervene to improve the overall quality of information ecosystems while working to build underlying trust. This approach is designed to be operationalised and to outlive the Commission. The Commission will generate clear, policy-targeted recommendations for the audiences best positioned to act – health ministries, multilateral institutions, research institutions, media organisations, technology platforms, and civil society.