Countries must address the 鈥済rave global harm鈥� caused by the proliferation of hate and lies online, UN Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres听said on Monday, launching听designed to shore up information integrity on digital platforms.
Alarm over the potential threat posed by the rapid development of generative artificial intelligence (AI) must not obscure the damage already being done by digital technologies that听enable the spread of online hate speech, as well as mis- and disinformation, he said. 听
The policy brief argues that they听should be integral players听in upholding the accuracy, consistency and reliability of information shared by users.听听
鈥淢y hope is that it will provide a听gold standard for guiding action to strengthen information integrity,鈥� he wrote in the introduction.听
Connecting and dividing听
Digital platforms 鈥� which include social media channels, search engines and messaging apps 鈥� are connecting billions of people across the planet, with some three billion users of Facebook alone.听
They have听brought many benefits, from supporting communities in times of crisis and struggle, to helping to mobilize global movements for racial justice and gender equality.听 They are also used by the UN to engage people worldwide in pursuit of peace, dignity and human rights on a healthy planet.听听听
Yet these same digital platforms are being misused to听subvert science听and spread disinformation and hate, fuelling conflict, threatening democracy and human rights, and undermining public health and climate action.听听
"Some of our own UN peacekeeping missions and humanitarian aid operations have been targeted, making their work even more dangerous," he听said.
Deceitful, dangerous and deadly听
Although misinformation, disinformation and hate speech are related and overlap, they are distinct phenomena.听听
Hate speech refers to abusive or threatening language against a group or person, simply because of their race, colour, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or similar grounds.听
The difference between mis- and disinformation is intent, though the distinction can be difficult to determine. In general, misinformation refers to the unintentional spread of inaccurate information, while disinformation is not only inaccurate but听intended to deceive.听
Regardless, they have all proved to be dangerous and even deadly.听
鈥淲hile traditional media remain an important source of news for most people in conflict areas,听hatred spread on digital platforms has also sparked and fuelled violence,鈥� the report said.听 鈥淪ome digital platforms have faced criticism of their role in conflicts, including the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Safer digital space听
Given the threat, the Secretary-General has called for听coordinated international action听to make the digital space safer and more inclusive while also protecting human rights.听
Constructive responses have largely been lacking. Some tech companies have done听far too little听to prevent their platforms from contributing to the spread of violence and hatred, while Governments have sometimes resorted to听drastic measures听鈥� including internet shutdowns and bans 鈥� that lack any legal basis and infringe on human rights.听听
Code of Conduct听
The report puts forward the framework for global action though a Code of Conduct for information integrity on digital platforms, that outlines potential guardrails while safeguarding the rights to freedom of expression and information.听听
It will build on principles that include respect for human rights, support for independent media, increased transparency, user empowerment and strengthened research and data access.听
The Secretary-General also provided recommendations that could inform the Code of Conduct.听
They include a call for Governments, tech companies and other stakeholders to refrain from using, supporting, or amplifying disinformation and hate speech for any purpose.听听
Governments should also听guarantee a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape, with strong protections for journalists.听
Meanwhile, digital platforms should ensure safety and privacy by design in all products, alongside consistent application of policies and resources across countries and languages.听
All stakeholders should take urgent and immediate measures to ensure that all AI applications are safe, secure, responsible and ethical, and comply with human rights obligations, he added.听
Advertisers and digital platforms should听ensure that ads are not placed next to online mis- or disinformation or hate speech, and that ads containing disinformation are not promoted.听
Our common future听
The policy brief is the latest in听a series of 11 reports听based on proposals contained in听Our Common Agenda, the Secretary-General鈥檚 2021 report that outlines a vision for future global cooperation and multilateral action.听听
They are intended to inform discussions ahead of the听SDG Summit听in September, marking the midpoint towards achieving the听Sustainable Development Goals听by 2030, and the related听Summit of the Future听next year.
