Pope Francis Warns Against the Dangers of AI, Fake News, and Cancel Culture
On Thursday, January 9, Pope Francis cautioned about the risks posed by misinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI), warning that such tools could be exploited to manipulate minds and distort reality.
In his annual New Year’s address to diplomats at the Vatican, the 88-year-old pontiff spoke about the increasing polarization in society, exacerbated by the widespread creation and dissemination of fake news.
“This phenomenon generates false images of reality, a climate of suspicion that foments hate, undermines people’s sense of security, and compromises civil coexistence and the stability of entire nations,” Francis said.
The pope’s comments came shortly after Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced it would end its third-party fact-checking program in the United States, opting instead for a crowd-sourced approach to misinformation, similar to the model used by Elon Musk’s X.
Francis also addressed political leaders, stating, “In our time, the denial of self-evident truths seems to have gained the upper hand.” He warned that modern communication tools, including AI, could be manipulated for economic, political, or ideological purposes, further fueling division.
The pope emphasized the importance of media literacy and critical thinking to counter these trends.
Though he was unable to deliver the speech due to a cold, it was read on his behalf by a senior cleric.
In his address, Francis also criticized “cancel culture,” describing it as intolerant of differences and overly focused on individual rights at the expense of collective responsibilities, particularly toward the most vulnerable members of society.
He expressed concern over efforts to manipulate multilateral agreements by redefining terms or unilaterally altering the interpretation of human rights treaties to promote divisive ideologies.
“As an example, it is unacceptable to speak of an alleged ‘right to abortion,’ which contradicts human rights, particularly the right to life,” the pope stated.
Francis further warned that multilateral institutions risk becoming “like-minded clubs” that exclude differing perspectives, rendering them incapable of ensuring global peace and stability.
