The United Nations migration agency has warned that the growing spread of false information about migration, particularly through artificial intelligence (AI) and social media, is fuelling hostility towards migrants and weakening public confidence in migration management worldwide.
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Director General Amy Pope issued the warning on November 2, 2026, during the opening of the International Dialogue on Migration (IDM) in Geneva, Switzerland.
Pope said economic uncertainty, armed conflicts and climate-related pressures were placing increasing demands on governments and communities. She warned that misleading narratives about migrants were making these challenges more difficult to address by turning public anxiety into suspicion and hostility.
She stressed that governments must acknowledge people’s concerns while being honest about shortcomings in their migration systems. According to Pope, statistics and factual information alone are insufficient to restore public confidence. Governments and institutions must also listen to communities and take meaningful action.
The IOM expressed concern that false and misleading claims about migrants, circulated through social media and increasingly amplified by generative AI, were deepening divisions within societies.
As public trust declines, governments face greater resistance to migration cooperation, leaving migrants more vulnerable to dangers along their journeys. The agency noted that these developments are occurring amid declining development funding and increasing pressure on international cooperation.
Highlighting the scale of global migration, the IOM reported that more than 304 million people currently live outside their countries of birth, including approximately 168 million migrant workers.
Women and girls account for nearly half of all international migrants and face heightened risks of discrimination, abuse and exploitation in different stages of migration.
The agency also highlighted the contribution of migrants to families and communities through money transfers. Remittances sent home by migrants support approximately one billion people worldwide, helping them meet essential needs such as food, education and healthcare.
To address the growing challenges, Pope outlined three priority areas for governments and international partners.
First, she called for stronger cooperation between countries along major migration routes to expand regular migration opportunities, improve protection, strengthen humane border management and ensure dignified returns.
Second, she urged governments to invest early in communities affected by recurring floods, declining agricultural production and other climate-related pressures. Such investments could help people remain in their communities when possible while ensuring safer migration for those who need to move.
Third, she called for reliable migration data and the meaningful participation of affected people in policymaking. She also emphasised the need for technology that protects personal information and prevents discriminatory practices.
Pope said public trust must be built through consistent actions, respect for international agreements and fair treatment of individuals.
The warning comes after the International Migration Review Forum held in May 2026, where governments and other stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to safe, orderly and regular migration.
The United Nations is expected to review global progress towards the Sustainable Development Goal target on well-managed migration in July 2027. The review will be followed by the SDG Summit in September 2027, where discussions will also address the development agenda beyond 2030.
The International Dialogue on Migration, the IOM’s main platform for global migration policy discussions, is marking its 25th anniversary in 2026. The forum brings together governments, UN agencies, private sector representatives, local authorities, researchers and young people to discuss migration challenges and possible responses.
The discussions will contribute to the IOM Council meeting in December, which will include a high-level panel focusing on strengthening political trust in migration governance.