Action Line C9: Media
The advent of the Internet and social media have greatly expanded ways of expressing information. At the same time, however, they have become a breeding ground for widespread disinformation, hate speech and conspiracy theories that regulatory systems need to catch up to safeguard freedom of expression, access to information and privacy, continuously challenging policymakers, and regulators. Moreover, the rise of AI and platforms such as ChatGPT is significantly impacting journalism and the media’s editorial production and programming, changing how information is accessed and disseminated.
Recognizing freedom of expression as a fundamental human right in itself and an enabler of other rights, UNESCO is working to promote the free flow of ideas through words and images as a tool for promoting peace and dialogue, particularly through its role as a custodian agency for SDG 16.10.1.
UNESCO is working on a variety of initiatives, training, online courses, and capacity-building events on the themes of rule of law and human rights, countering disinformation and hate speech. For instance, in cooperation with the UN Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, UNESCO launched a UN-wide website on hate speech, while also supporting the Social Media 4 Peace project together with the European Union. Through these, UNESCO actively contributes to the resilience of societies to potentially harmful content spread online, in particular hate speech and incitement to violence, while protecting freedom of expression and enhancing the promotion of peace through digital technologies, notably social media.
Additionally, UNESCO also works to strengthen respect for the rule of law and fundamental freedoms by raising the knowledge and capacities of judicial actors on international and regional standards on freedom of expression, access to information, and the safety of journalists, including in the digital sphere. In line with this, the UNESCO Judges Initiative was launched in 2013. Since then, over 24,000 judicial actors in 150 countries have been trained to ensure an environment conducive to press freedom, good governance, and transparency.
Lastly, UNESCO is consolidating these efforts through a series of conferences, such as the 2023 Global Conference on “Regulating digital platforms for information as a public good,” as well as a series of human rights’ assessment guidelines, most notably through the 26 high level principles to enhance the transparency of internet platform companies.