The UN’s migration agency has issued a stark warning about a new and dangerous trend: the use of artificial intelligence to spread misinformation and hate against migrants. According to the International Organization for Migration, this digital weaponization is turning public anxiety into outright suspicion and casting migrants as targets for hostility and violence. The spread of these narratives is not just an online problem; it is fueling real-world discrimination, eroding public trust in migration policies, and putting vulnerable people at greater risk. The core message is that as technology becomes more advanced, the challenge of separating truth from fiction grows, and the consequences are being felt by some of the world’s most displaced and vulnerable populations.
The problem is amplified by the very tools designed to connect us. Social media and digital platforms allow false narratives to travel at lightning speed and reach audiences far wider than traditional media ever could. But the game-changer is generative AI, which can create incredibly realistic fake content—from manipulated videos to convincing deepfakes—that is nearly impossible to distinguish from reality, even for trained experts. This technology makes it cheap and easy to produce and circulate fabricated images and stories that paint migrants as dangerous, criminal, or lazy. This constant barrage of negative and false portrayals does more than just mislead; it deepens social divisions and actively undermines the trust that people have in the reliable information provided by humanitarian organizations, creating a hostile environment before a migrant even arrives.
This online hostility is not confined to the digital world; it is spilling over into violent real-world consequences. A UN refugee agency survey found that a staggering majority of refugees have personally experienced hate speech or misinformation aimed at them, and the effects are tangible. People report suffering from psychological distress, social isolation, and even fraud, while facing difficulties accessing essential services and threats to their physical safety. There are documented cases where online hate campaigns have directly incited violence. In Indonesia, a wave of online hate targeting Rohingya refugees preceded protests and a physical attack on a shelter, forcing 137 people to flee. This incident was described by the UN as the direct result of a coordinated campaign of misinformation and hate speech, demonstrating a clear line from online rhetoric to physical harm.
The far-right is leveraging this technology with alarming effectiveness. Generative AI has become a tool of choice for political actors aiming to spread anti-migrant content and influence public opinion. Investigations have uncovered hundreds of social media posts containing AI-generated material published by far-right accounts, including fabricated images and videos specifically targeting refugees and immigrants. This content is designed to exploit existing public anxieties about economic prosperity, health, identity, and security. By repeatedly injecting these false narratives into the public sphere, they are able to shape political attitudes and even influence electoral support for their parties, making migration a potent and divisive political issue based on a foundation of falsehoods.
While all migrants are vulnerable to these attacks, women and girls face an even greater degree of risk. They are often the subjects of dehumanizing and violent narratives that increase their exposure to discrimination, abuse, and exploitation. This is particularly concerning given the vast scale of migration today. Over 300 million people live outside their country of birth, and nearly half of all global migrants are women and girls. These individuals are not just statistics; they are essential contributors to the global economy, sending money home that supports around one billion people worldwide. Their safety and dignity are paramount, and the targeted misinformation they face adds a layer of danger to an already difficult journey, threatening not just their well-being but also the livelihoods of those who depend on them.
The IOM’s warning comes at a critical time when international cooperation is strained and development funding is shrinking. This leaves migrants more exposed than ever to the consequences of digital harm. The challenges are immense, but there is a path forward. The IOM argues that migration policies must be grounded in reliable data and the real experiences of migrants themselves, not on fabricated narratives. Governments are being urged to create more regular migration pathways, improve humane border management, and foster greater international cooperation. Crucially, they are being called upon to acknowledge that our institutions must listen and act, even when the truths they hear are uncomfortable. The ultimate task is not just to counter hateful narratives but to build systems and a public discourse that are more resilient to manipulation, ensuring that technology serves to inform and connect, rather than divide and destroy.