During his four-day visit to Colombia, the Duke of Sussex said the spread of disinformation through artificial intelligence and social media means “we are no longer debating facts”.
Prince Harry and the Duchess of Sussex arrived in the UK on Thursday and were hosted by Vice President Francia Marquez, who invited the couple after watching a Netflix series about their lives.
On their first day, they visited schools in the capital, Bogota, speaking to teenagers about the impact of social media and speaking at a summit on digital responsibility organised by the Archewell Foundation.
“What happens online is on the streets within minutes and people are acting on information that is not true,” the Duke said.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have faced attacks on social media, have not revealed who is funding the trip, which is not a state visit or an official royal event.
But they are given full security, something they no longer have in the UK after stepping down from royal duties in 2020.
The Duke said many people have “fears and anxieties” about the potential impact of AI and that “education and awareness” would be key to tackling misinformation.
“It’s up to all of us to distinguish between real and fake,” he said.
“In an ideal world, those in positions of influence would bear more responsibility. We’re not arguing facts anymore.”
“As long as people are allowed to spread lies, abuse and harassment, social cohesion as we know it will completely disintegrate.”
Marquez, who welcomed the couple to the residence, described the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s visit as a “very special visit”.
She said that in addition to focusing on cyber issues, she also wants to contribute to building bridges and promoting women’s leadership in Colombia.
Meghan and Marquez were photographed embracing and warmly greeting each other, and the Vice President shook Prince Harry’s hand as they were introduced.
The couple, who live in California, plan to spend time in the Cartagena and Cali areas during their trip.
The tour, which in many ways resembles a state royal visit, will be the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s second visit this year, following a three-day visit to Nigeria in May.