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Disinformation is not just a political issue, it鈥檚 a pressing challenge that threatens democracy, trust in institutions, and the business community, according to experts who spoke at a recent panel hosted by the Arizona 暗网中文论坛of Commerce & Industry. Panelists explained the need for collaboration between businesses, government, and civil society to address the growing problem of intentional efforts to mislead citizens.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 just about politics. It impacts our business community in a major way, and it really affects every aspect of our life,鈥� said Matt Salmon, a former Arizona congressman and co-chairman of the Conservative Agenda for Arizona, who served as the panel moderator.

The role of disinformation in society

Disinformation, deliberate falsehoods designed to mislead, is distinct from misinformation, which involves spreading inaccurate information without harmful intent. Panelists explained that disinformation tends to exploit social media algorithms and emotional reactions to create more division.

鈥淔act-checking is no longer working,鈥� Katherine Keneally, director of U.S. Threat Analysis and Prevention at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, explained. 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 even trust the fact-checkers anymore. We need to attack the systems enabling this environment.鈥�

The consequences of unchecked disinformation go beyond politics. Businesses, for example, are increasingly vulnerable to viral misinformation campaigns that can damage reputations or manipulate markets.

鈥淭here are actors out there who will use disinformation to gain a market advantage, undermine customer confidence, and even force businesses to take positions they otherwise wouldn鈥檛,鈥� Arizona 暗网中文论坛of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden said. 

Joining Keneally and Seiden on the panel were Paul Fagan, the director of democracy programs for the McCain Institute, and Travis Bruner, the Arizona director for Protect Democracy.

Challenges for businesses and communities

Arizona鈥檚 position as a leader in industries like aerospace and defense makes it a target for malicious actors, panelists warned. For example, foreign entities could use disinformation to disrupt supply chains or damage public trust in these very critical industries.

鈥淲e鈥檙e number 5 (nationally) in aerospace and defense in Arizona,鈥� Seiden said. 鈥淲e have Raytheon here manufacturing a lot of things that keep people safe around the world. But that also makes us a target.鈥�

The panelists pointed out that misinformation about Arizona鈥檚 water supply has created unnecessary panic and policy challenges, despite the state鈥檚 forward-thinking water management strategies.

鈥淔or everyone who says there鈥檚 a big water crisis in Arizona, I come back and say there鈥檚 not,鈥� Seiden said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e one of the best-planned states in the country, with a 100-year water assurance requirement, far ahead of other states.鈥�

Collaborative solutions

Addressing disinformation requires businesses to be proactive rather than reactive, the experts said. Online reputation management (ORM) is becoming an important tool for companies to fight the false narratives that have been evolving and to build trust with customers.

鈥淓very company has to manage, make sure their customers understand where they are, and ensure they can trust them,鈥� Seiden said.

Panelists also emphasized the importance of civic education to help citizens understand what information is credible and understand how disinformation operates. Local journalism, once an important line of defense against misinformation, has been weakened by resource constraints, leaving communities more vulnerable.

The panelists called for federal-level policies to regulate social media platforms and artificial intelligence-generated content to ensure consistency nationwide. They also urged the business community to engage in partnerships and advocacy to fight false narratives and support democratic resilience.

As Arizona continues to navigate these challenges, the panel showed the importance of collaboration among all sectors to counter the threat of disinformation and build a less divided future.