How Digital Falsehoods Fuel Authoritarianism


Byline: Cliff Potts, WPS News

New York, September 11, 2025 — Facebook has become the primary battleground in the fight against the global misinformation pandemic, serving as a major vector for COVID-19 denialism, vaccine falsehoods, and conspiracy theories that actively undermine democratic institutions. Despite repeated promises to combat misinformation, the platform’s business model and algorithms continue to prioritize sensational content that drives engagement — often at the expense of truth and public safety.

The leaked Facebook Papers, revealed in 2021 by the Wall Street Journal, uncovered internal communications showing that Facebook’s algorithm intentionally amplifies divisive and extremist content to maximize user attention and advertising revenue (Facebook Papers, 2021). This incentivization has resulted in the widespread dissemination of false narratives about COVID-19 origins, treatments, and vaccine efficacy, severely damaging public trust in science and health authorities.

Vaccine hesitancy, fueled in part by misinformation on Facebook, has contributed to resurgent outbreaks and prevented the achievement of herd immunity in many regions (Wilson & Wiysonge, 2020). Conspiracy theories intertwining anti-vaccine rhetoric with extremist ideologies have created fertile ground for authoritarian movements that thrive on distrust and social division (Bruns, Harrington, & Hurcombe, 2020).

Facebook’s repeated failures to curtail misinformation stem from prioritizing platform growth over content accuracy and safety. Frances Haugen’s whistleblower testimony before the U.S. Senate highlighted how enforcement efforts were reactive, limited, and often undermined by internal resistance to slowing engagement metrics (Haugen, 2021).

Since the internet is a global communication tool, this misinformation pandemic is not confined to any one nation. It demands a global response. The international community must get off its collective butt and finally address the vast damage wrought by digital falsehoods—working together to regulate, mitigate, and hold platforms accountable for this worldwide crisis.

The impact of Facebook’s misinformation crisis extends beyond health outcomes. It exacerbates political polarization, erodes faith in democratic processes, and emboldens anti-democratic actors globally. The platform’s complicity underscores the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks and independent oversight.

Combating this pandemic of misinformation requires a multipronged approach: users must remain vigilant, critically assess information, and report false content; social media companies must implement transparent and rigorous moderation policies; and governments must legislate protections for public health and democratic integrity.

Facebook’s role in fueling the misinformation pandemic is a cautionary tale of unchecked digital power. Addressing this crisis is essential for restoring trust and safeguarding democracy in the digital age.

APA Citations:

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