While the digital era has presented opportunities for enhancing freedom of expression, new challenges have emerged. The spread of disinformation and hate speech has been deployed and amplified by digital technologies, often intimidating and discrediting media, especially targeting female journalists and impacting societies in their various democratic processes.
In the face of widespread disinformation and hate speech, people are increasingly in self-reinforcing informational echo chambers with entirely different sets and interpretations of facts. Elections in different parts of the World and policy initiatives that intend to protect democratic values have been severely affected by these issues. During COVID-19, access to quality information has been a life-and-death issue.
These dynamics and the lack of media and information literacy undermine critical processes and actors for vibrant democracies.
Moreover, according to UNESCO’s World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development: Global Report 2021/2022, global awareness of journalists’ digital threats has increased in recent years. Online harassment, mass and targeted surveillance, data storage and Internet shutdowns are among the many ways digital tools have jeopardized journalists’ safety and integrity. Both state and non-state actors use these tactics to gain access to confidential information, intimidate journalists and curb people’s access to information.
In light of these worrying trends, UNESCO and other UN agencies are working with Member States, Internet platforms and civil society to take policy-driven action to promote a safe online space for freedom of expression and access to information.
Objectives:
Participants will be able to:
- Identify trends and challenges for Freedom of Expression in the Digital Environment;
- Identify different approaches to disinformation, misinformation, malinformation, hate speech and Internet shutdowns, and how these issues impact media, woman journalists, societies and democratic processes;
- Identify UN resources, tools, resolutions, coordination groups and mechanisms to address the issue of online disinformation, hate speech and Internet shutdowns.
Panel Composition:
The webinar panel will be moderated by UNSSC and include panel members from UNESCO, OHCHR, ARTICLE 19. Join us to interact with renowned experts to learn practical cases and strategies to address disinformation and hate speech in the digital environment.
Registration:
The webinar will take place from 15:00-16:00 CET on Wednesday, 18 January 2023. Admission to the webinar is free. Interested participants are invited to register here.
How to register
Interested participants can register using this link http://ow.ly/TOFn50MnGct