Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The United Nations has warned that the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in advertising could worsen the global information integrity crisis. With global advertising spending exceeding $1 trillion annually, the sector has a central role in shaping what content is produced and amplified online, according to the UN's Department of Global Communications and the Conscious Advertising Network in a recent brief titled "Strengthening Information Integrity: Advertising, Artificial Intelligence and the Global Information Crisis."
The brief cautions that as AI becomes more integrated into media buying and content generation, risks such as the spread of disinformation, hate speech, and polarizing content are rising. Advertising revenues continue to support online content regardless of its quality or accuracy, contributing to the degradation of information ecosystems.
Furthermore, the lack of transparency in how AI-driven advertising systems operate increases concerns around fraud and inefficiency. The growth of AI-generated content also challenges independent journalism, while declining trust in digital environments threatens the effectiveness and return on investment of advertising campaigns.
UN Senior Adviser on Information Integrity Charlotte Scaddan emphasized that advertisers have significant influence on information ecosystems and called for urgent action to implement safeguards. Harriet Kingaby from the Conscious Advertising Network warned that responding to AI without protections could harm the environments marketing relies on.
The UN briefing urges policymakers to align AI and advertising governance frameworks with international standards on information integrity and encourages collaboration with industry and civil society to improve transparency. For advertisers, it advocates for greater visibility across AI supply chains and prioritizing quality media environments to protect both societal interests and business outcomes.