Disinformation on the rise in AI-enthusiastic Switzerland
In 2025, more than two out of five people used artificial intelligence (AI) to create content such as text or images. Among 15- to 24-year-olds, the figure was as high as four out of five. At the same time, the population is increasingly confronted with disinformation, hate speech, and fraud online. These are the key findings of the latest survey by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) on internet use in Swiss households.
In spring 2025, 43% of the population aged between 15 and 88 stated that they had already used a generative AI system. This system creates text, image, or audio content based on instructions.
Generative AI tools are spreading rapidly
3.2 million people in Switzerland used generative AI in the three months prior to the survey – and many of them used the tools very frequently: 36% of those who used AI did so daily, while 34% did so at least once a week. Given that AI systems have only been available to the general public for three years, the number of users and frequency of use appear all the higher.
The systems are most commonly used for private purposes (38% of the population), followed by professional purposes (31%). Within the formal education system (e.g., schools and universities), a usage rate of 75% is achieved.
AI highlights the digital divide
The use of generative AI tools varies greatly depending on sociodemographic profile. Existing inequalities in the general use of digital technologies are even more pronounced with this new technology.
Young people in particular are turning to generative AI: 79% of 15- to 24-year-olds use such tools, compared to only 66% of 25- to 34-year-olds. This proportion continues to decline with age (55- to 64-year-olds: 28%). There are also clear differences in terms of educational level. 63% of people with a university degree use generative AI, compared to 17% of people without post-compulsory education. Although men use generative AI more often than women overall, there are no gender-specific differences in the under-30 age groups.
Half of the population does not use generative AI
Even though generative AI is spreading rapidly, it is not yet widely used. One-third of the population sees no benefit in the corresponding applications, and 71% have privacy and security concerns. Only 71% say they lack the necessary skills, which shows that the majority of the population believes AI systems are relatively easy to use. Only 21% of the population say they are unaware of the existence of such tools.
Increasingly problematic content and security issues
The results reveal another important aspect: between 2023 and 2025, security issues, disinformation, and hate speech on the internet have increased significantly. This development highlights the growing prevalence of problematic online content and the increase in risks and dangers associated with internet use.
The proportion of people who received fraudulent messages (phishing) in the three months prior to the survey rose from 51% to 61% (4.4 million people). The increase in this type of online fraud is also reflected in the proportion of users who report having suffered financial losses in the twelve months prior to the survey. In 2021, this proportion was 1.7%, doubling to 3.4% (250,000 people) by 2025.
Disinformation on the rise
Disinformation is also on the rise. The upward trend already observed between 2021 and 2023 is confirmed: in 2025, 58% of the population reported encountering content on websites or social media that they considered false or questionable (2021: 45%; 2023: 51%). Young people under the age of 30 and social media users are particularly exposed to disinformation (68% and 67%, respectively).
The approach to dealing with misinformation remains largely unchanged: around half of users check the accuracy of the content they encounter. The majority of those who do not do so (38%) believe they already know that the information is false or that the source is unreliable. 15%, on the other hand, admit that they do not have the necessary knowledge or skills to check the content.
Hate speech is on the rise
More and more internet users are being confronted with hate speech. In 2025, 42% of the population reported having seen hostile or derogatory messages on social media or information sites that were directed against groups or individuals. This represents an increase of 4.5 percentage points. Once again, those under 30 and social media users reported such content most frequently (61% and 50%, respectively).
There has been a particularly sharp increase in hate speech related to political or social opinions and religion, as well as xenophobic content. Hate speech related to sexual orientation or disability is occurring at roughly the same rate as in 2023.
This press release and further information on this topic can be found at Website of the FSO.
