Audrey Azoulay, the Director-General of UNESCO, has unveiled a comprehensive action plan to combat the escalating crisis of false narratives and hate speech circulating on digital platforms. The announcement comes as UNESCO labels these phenomena as a “major threat to stability and social cohesion.”
The action plan, a result of extensive global consultations involving over 10,000 contributions from 134 countries over the last eighteen months, emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated efforts to curb the dissemination of misinformation. It outlines fundamental principles and concrete measures to be adopted by governments, regulatory authorities, civil society, and digital platforms.
Key among the principles are the establishment of independent, public regulators worldwide with clearly defined roles and ample resources. These regulators will work in coordination to prevent digital companies from exploiting disparities between national regulations. The plan also calls for effective content moderation, accountability in platform algorithms, and heightened measures during sensitive moments such as elections and crises.
Azoulay underscored the delicate balance between regulating online platforms to protect access to information and preserving freedom of expression and human rights. She highlighted that limiting speech is not a viable solution, and the focus should be on fostering independent, qualitative, and free media outlets.
The initiative has already garnered support from representatives of independent regulators, particularly in Africa and Latin America, with plans for the first World Conference of Regulators scheduled for mid-2024. UNESCO is also committed to assisting member states in implementing the action plan through dedicated funding, including a 1 million Euro pledge from the European Commission.
A global opinion poll conducted by IPSOS for UNESCO alongside the action plan’s release further reinforces the urgency of the situation. With over 8,000 respondents across 16 countries where elections are slated for 2024, 85% of citizens expressed concern about the impact of online disinformation. An overwhelming 88% called on governments and regulators to swiftly address the issue by regulating social media platforms.
As the world grapples with the challenges posed by the rapid dissemination of false information and hate speech online, UNESCO’s action plan emerges as a pivotal step towards safeguarding societal cohesion, peace, and stability in the digital age.
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