Disinformation poses a growing threat to democratic societies by undermining trust in public institutions and weakening democratic resilience. The World Economic Forum ranked misinformation and disinformation as the top global risk in 2025 and the second most severe in 2026.
This PRIO Paper highlights some important aspects to consider when addressing these challenges with reference to the concept of psychological defence. Psychological defence emphasizes societal resilience against hybrid threats such as disinformation rather than solely countering false claims. Drawing on European experiences and the Norwegian context, the report concludes that a whole-of-society approach is essential. Traditional measures like fact checking and media literacy remain important but are insufficient on their own, as disinformation often targets trust rather than accuracy.
Strong national coordination, clear terminology, strategic communication and sustained trust-building, also outside crisis situations, are highlighted as critical. Ultimately, strengthening psychological defence can help safeguard democratic values and public confidence in an increasingly complex security environment.
