Between alarm and evidence: misinformation in the age of AI

In the age of Artificial Intelligence, misinformation is widely perceived as a major threat to democracies. However, empirical evidence paints a more nuanced picture: it is not only the spread of misinformation, but above all the sharp decline in the consumption of reliable news that deserves greater attention. Note: This article is based on the presentation “Beyond Misinformation: Perception, Reality, AI, and the Challenge of News Deprivation”, delivered by Mark Eisenegger at the Aarau Democracy Days, 12–13 March 2026.