The Audit of the Strategy Document on Counterdisinformation and Promote Information Integrity
At the end of 2025, the Freedom of Expression and CDMSI (Steering Committee on Media and Information Society) division of the Council of Europe will host a detailed Expert Workshop, marking a significant milestone in setting the path for strategies to counterdisinformation and foster a culture of information integrity. This workshop, taking place at the council’s Office in Paris, France, will bring together a group of internationally recognized experts, CDMSI members, and representatives from the Council of Europe Secretariat as part of its ongoing mandate. The purpose of this event is to develop a Strategy Document aimed at bearing the brunt of the council’s mandates and translating international standards into practical measures that member states can implement.
The Workshop’s Setting the Priority
The workshop will be a collaborative effort where expert participants and attendees will discuss the overall structure and the core findings of the proposed Strategy Document. This document is intended to support the Council of Europe’s mandate by providing member states with a framework to translate international guidance into actionable strategies. The collaborative exchange is a key aspect of the audit, as it aims to refine and adapt the six proposed steps based on collective insights and expert input. The discussions will revolve around the actual challenges and real-world implementation of the tasks outlined in the document.
twelve Shootouts and Protocols
The Strategy Document indeed comprises twelve key convictions that aim to guide the development of effective counterdisinformation and information integrity strategies. Each of these principles is being individually explored during the workshop. Among the twelve, Barbarism and Fairness come to the forefront as critical themes. The participants noted that these principles emphasize the importance of preventing the spread of false information and ensuring that news dissemination is accessible to all, regardless of cultural or social background. Additionally, the workshop highlighted the necessity of integrating local contexts with international standards to make the practicality of the proposed measures even more assured.
Challenges and Refinements
As the discussions progress, attendees begin to grapple with identifying which ten steps of the Strategy Document are most impactful and whether their implementation is feasible. The Challenges section of the document includes a series of bullet points that detail the potential roadblocks and obstacles a member state might face during the development and execution of the strategies. These challenges include de jure and de facto access to information, accountability mechanisms, and the need for robust legal frameworks to ensure global interoperability. refrain from this work here, remember that this is to be written.
The Meeting Point
Once the document is developed and the challenges are addressed, the next step will be to begin transitioning the findings into concrete actions. This will involve not only refining the guidance to align better with the council’s legal standards but also ensuring that the measures are tailored to the unique needs of member states. The hope is that the Strategy Document will not only reflect best practices but also prevent the potential escalation of disinformation disasters. By achieving these outcomes, the document will serve to undermine the rise of false information and inspire a culture of trust and reliability.
An Electsteel Outcome
The outcome of this expert consultation will be a Strategy Document that reflects the collective consensus of the CDMSI group and contributes to the Council of Europe’s efforts to strengthen information integrity and build trust across its member states. The Process under themidst of the meeting, during which experts grade each step from a 1 to 5 star scale, will document the conversations, insights, and decisions. The ranking of the steps will inform the final development of the document, with frameworks from CDMSI’s Legal Considerations, tools for monitoring progress, and the development of a prototype to enhance feasibility.
The Global Community Vision
This Expert Workshop serves as a stepping stone toward broader collaboration and action. By addressing the specific challenges facing member states and refining their approaches, the participants are setting the stage for the recognition of an ongoing effort to establish and strengthen the rules of information integrity at the global level. The insights gathered during this expert consultation will guide the finalization of thedeliverable and contribute to the council’s ongoing work to strengthen the information ecosystem. This is a collaborative effort that mirrors the responsibility with which the Common𝐸 vigilance Waste notification recommendations in the 2008 Paris Intimateenvironment.
