UN Unveils Global Principles to Combat Misinformation and Hate Speech in the Digital Age
NEW YORK, June 24, 2024 – The United Nations has launched a comprehensive framework to address the escalating threat of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and other harmful content online. Secretary-General António Guterres unveiled the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity, emphasizing the urgent need for coordinated international action to create safer and more trustworthy digital spaces. The initiative comes as the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) exacerbates the spread of harmful content, amplifying risks to vulnerable groups, including children. The Secretary-General called upon governments, tech companies, advertisers, and the public relations industry to assume responsibility for curbing the proliferation and monetization of harmful content.
The Global Principles for Information Integrity are the culmination of extensive consultations with member states, private sector entities, youth leaders, media organizations, academia, and civil society. They articulate a set of recommendations designed to cultivate healthier information ecosystems that protect human rights, promote peaceful societies, and contribute to a sustainable future. This framework underscores the importance of upholding freedom of expression while simultaneously mitigating the detrimental impact of online falsehoods and hate speech. The UN’s own peacekeeping, humanitarian, and development efforts have been compromised by the erosion of information integrity, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of this issue.
The Principles advocate for a multi-pronged approach to tackling the challenges posed by online misinformation and hate. Governments are urged to ensure timely access to accurate information, support a free and independent media landscape, and provide robust protections for journalists, researchers, and civil society actors. Tech companies are called upon to prioritize safety and privacy by design in their products, implement consistent policies across different countries and languages, and enhance their crisis response mechanisms, particularly during elections. The Principles also emphasize the need for immediate and transparent measures to ensure the safe, responsible, and ethical development and deployment of AI technologies.
Addressing the financial incentives that drive the spread of harmful content, the UN framework calls for tech companies to explore alternative business models that do not rely on programmatic advertising that prioritizes engagement over human rights and safety. Advertisers are encouraged to demand greater transparency in digital advertising processes to prevent their budgets from inadvertently funding disinformation or hate speech. The Principles also stress the importance of meaningful transparency from tech companies and AI developers, including providing researchers and academics with access to data while respecting user privacy, commissioning independent audits, and developing industry accountability frameworks.
Recognizing the particular vulnerability of children in the digital sphere, the Principles urge governments, tech companies, and AI developers to implement special measures for their protection and empowerment. Governments are encouraged to provide resources for parents, guardians, and educators to equip them with the tools and knowledge to navigate the online world safely. The framework aims to empower individuals to assert their rights in the face of online falsehoods, distortions, and harmful narratives. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of human rights, peaceful societies, and a sustainable future with the integrity of the information ecosystem.
The UN Global Principles for Information Integrity mark a significant step towards addressing the complex challenges presented by the spread of mis- and disinformation and hate speech online. They provide a roadmap for collaborative action among governments, tech companies, civil society, and individuals to foster a more responsible and trustworthy digital landscape. The Principles will serve as a valuable resource for Member States in preparation for the upcoming Summit of the Future in September, offering a framework for collective efforts to navigate the evolving information landscape and safeguard fundamental rights in the digital age. This initiative underscores the UN’s commitment to upholding human dignity, fostering peaceful coexistence, and promoting a future where information serves the common good rather than contributing to conflict and division.
