In a world where a single fabricated headline can travel halfway around the globe before anyone has a chance to question it, the tiny but influential Principality of Monaco has decided to take a stand. On Thursday, 8th October, Monaco officially launched its national programme, Youth Facing Disinformation (Les jeunes face à la désinformation), during a press conference held at the Interministerial Delegation for Digital Transition. This is not just another awareness campaign; it is a cornerstone of Monaco’s presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, a role that carries real weight in shaping continental policy. The initiative is also deeply tied to the Council of Europe’s broader, multi-year campaign called Journalists Matter, which runs from 2023 to 2027 and is built around a simple but urgent conviction: that freedom of expression and the safety of journalists must be protected, especially in a time when reporters face violence, harassment, and intimidation both online and offline. Monaco’s move signals that even a small nation can act as a powerful convenor, pulling together governments, young people, and media professionals to confront one of the defining challenges of our digital age—how to tell truth from falsehood when the tools for deception have never been more sophisticated.
The press conference itself brought together a group of officials who each added a distinct layer to the initiative’s mission. Léa Calori, an official administrator at Monaco’s Direction de la Communication, framed the programme as a direct response to a troubling global reality. “Under the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and amidst an increasingly uncertain global context where journalists are on the front line, the Princely Government has initiated targeted actions for youth,” she said. Her words underscored a sense of duty: if journalists are the guardians of democratic information, then ordinary citizens—especially the young—must be given the tools to understand why that guardianship matters. Claire Fissore of the Interministerial Delegation for Digital Transition then broadened the conversation, pointing out that the programme is designed to address the full spectrum of modern digital challenges. She spoke openly about the rise of artificial intelligence, the opaque algorithms that decide what we see online, and the urgent need to protect minors in an environment where they are constantly exposed to manipulated content. “The delegation has prioritised fostering a sovereign, responsible, and trustworthy AI ecosystem,” Fissore said, suggesting that the fight against disinformation is not only about fact-checking individual posts but about building the institutional and technological frameworks that make truth more resilient in the first place. Together, these opening remarks painted a picture of a government that is not content to simply react to fake news, but is trying to get ahead of the problem by focusing on the people most likely to be shaped by it: the next generation.
Representing the Council of Europe, Artemizia-Tatiana Chisca, Head of the Freedom of Expression and CDMSI Division, brought a broader European perspective to the table. She praised Monaco’s active commitment, noting that “the country is successfully mobilising member states to view information integrity and media education as holistic societal necessities.” That phrase—holistic societal necessities—is important. It moves media literacy out of the classroom and into every corner of public life, suggesting that learning how to navigate information is as essential as learning how to read or write. Chisca went on to explain that at its core, the Journalists Matter campaign is about ensuring journalists can work freely and securely, shielded from the pressures that have become all too common in recent years, ranging from routine harassment to extreme intimidation. She then made a crucial observation about why this mission has become so urgent. “This mission is more urgent than ever as algorithms, social networks, and artificial intelligence completely transform how information is accessed, produced, and shared. In this rapidly shifting environment, youth are uniquely affected—acting not only as everyday consumers of news, but as active creators and multipliers of content who must navigate the rising tide of disinformation.” Her point is subtle but profound: young people are not passive victims of fake news. They are also part of the system, sharing posts, remixing memes, and contributing to the information ecosystem in ways that older generations never had to deal with. This makes them both vulnerable and powerful, and any serious response has to acknowledge that dual role.
Florian Botto, a Monegasque diplomat serving within Monaco’s Department of External Relations and Cooperation, then articulated the philosophical heart of the Monegasque mandate. He spoke about the underlying goal of protecting all citizens through effective organisation and a thoughtful response to contemporary challenges. But he was careful to reject the idea that protecting young people means controlling them. “Empowering younger generations does not mean deciding for them, but rather equipping them with critical thinking skills so they can become autonomous, responsible citizens,” he concluded. This is a refreshingly humble approach. It admits that adults cannot shield young people from every piece of harmful content or every cleverly disguised lie. What adults can do, however, is give them the intellectual armour they need to question, verify, and think independently. That kind of education is not a quick fix; it is a long-term investment in democratic health. It also reframes the entire initiative: rather than telling young people what to believe, Monaco is trying to teach them how to believe—how to weigh evidence, recognise manipulation, and make up their own minds. In an age of deepfakes and algorithmically amplified outrage, that skill set is nothing less than a survival skill for democracy itself.
To bring these ideas to life in a way that actually reaches people, the Youth Facing Disinformation campaign is taking a creative approach that feels far removed from the typical government brochure. As part of the build-up to a major Strasbourg conference, the campaign features a unique four-part fictional video series broadcast locally on Monaco Info. The series was developed in close collaboration with actor and co-creator Mickaël Lorenzier, who invested heavily in the writing, concept development, and special effects. Rather than presenting dry statistics or lecturing viewers about the dangers of fake news, the series leans on the conventions of fiction and a touch of the absurd to tackle media literacy with humour. This is a deliberate choice. Research has consistently shown that people are more likely to absorb complex messages when they are delivered through stories, especially stories that make them laugh. The episodes are being released weekly on Thursdays at 7pm in the lead-up to the November summit, serving as engaging awareness-raising capsules that fit naturally into an evening television schedule. After the conference, the complete series will air as a standalone short film across Monaco Info platforms, including its website and YouTube channel, making it accessible to audiences outside the Principality. This is a smart way to extend the campaign’s reach beyond Monaco’s borders, allowing the rest of Europe and the world to see the creative ways this small nation is tackling a global problem. It also demonstrates that fighting disinformation does not have to be grim or preachy; it can be imaginative, entertaining, and even fun.
Looking ahead, the most significant milestone of the national campaign is the upcoming Youth Facing Disinformation conference in Strasbourg, scheduled for 9th and 10th November. The timing is particularly symbolic, as the 10th of November also marks the official handover day, when Montenegro will take over the presidency of the Council of Europe as Monaco’s mandate concludes. Serge Robillard, an official within Monaco’s administration who serves as the National Focal Point for the Council of Europe’s Journalists Matter campaign under the Digital Department, detailed the robust selection process that made this conference possible. There was an open European call for candidatures, which ultimately selected 50 young people, including three from Monaco, to participate. There was also a separate call for projects addressing disinformation, ensuring that the conference would not just be a talking shop but a place where concrete ideas could be developed. The three selected Monegasque students, alongside peers from across Europe, will travel to Strasbourg to take on active roles as reporters and workshop participants, translating policy ideas into tangible actions. But the initiative does not end there. Community engagement will continue well beyond the autumn, with a December 2026 conference in Monaco titled Les jeunes face à la désinformation à Monaco : perspectives, which will present a synthesis of the Strasbourg findings. In March 2027, youth workshops and social media initiatives will take place during Press Week, and the official close of the Journalists Matter campaign under the Dutch presidency in November 2027 will showcase the results from the four selected projects. In other words, this is not a one-off event but a sustained, multi-year commitment. Monaco has understood that the fight against disinformation cannot be won in a single press conference or a single summit; it requires constant vigilance, continuous education, and a willingness to adapt as technology evolves. By placing young people at the centre of that effort, Monaco is not only protecting its own citizens but also setting an example for the rest of Europe. In a time when trust in institutions is fragile and the digital landscape grows more complex by the day, that example is worth more than words. It is a call to action, wrapped in humour, compassion, and an unshakeable belief that the next generation is worth investing in.