By Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum

Many heralded the advent of the Internet and the spread of information and communication technologies as enabling a “global village” that would unite people across borders, support the exchange of ideas, and revolutionize progress. So far, that promise has yet to be fully fulfilled.

While the Internet, and later videoconferencing, have brought us together in virtual spaces, the human connection has been lacking. Instead of building trust, the foundation of any partnership, the Internet has had the deleterious effect of increasing polarization. In recent years, this divide has accelerated, as misinformation has run far too often…