Countering Disinformation United Nations

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Oct 26, 2025, 4:13 PM

countering disinformation united nations

The UN General Assembly has expressed concern over the proliferation of disinformation and has welcomed the efforts of the Secretary-General to promote international cooperation in countering disinformation. In response to that, the Secretary-General has submitted a report based on information and best practices shared by States, UN entities and others on countering disinformation. In his report, Countering disinformation for the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the Secretary-General describes the challenges posed by disinformation and the responses to it, sets out the relevant international... Recent decades have been marked by rapid technical transformations that have completely upended the ways people interact, communicate and access information about the world. People now possess the entirety of human knowledge in the palm of their hand, and news and information can ricochet around the world in seconds. There are vast new opportunities to educate, inform and organize.

Particularly during the COVID-19 lockdowns, technology was key in enabling continued access to vital information about health, but also to education, work etc. Yet these dramatic shifts have also had negative consequences that we are only beginning to confront, including the much accelerated rate at which misinformation, disinformation, and even hate speech spread. Again, the COVID-19 pandemic brought this into sharp focus as health measures were widely debated and dis- and misinformation made their implementation more difficult. While misinformation refers to the accidental spread of inaccurate information, disinformation is not only inaccurate, but intends to deceive and is spread in order to do serious harm. UN has launched recommendations for urgent actions against mis- and disinformation and hate speech. “The world must respond to the harm caused by the spread of online hate and lies while robustly upholding human rights,” United Nations Secretary- General António Guterres said today at the launch of the...

Speaking one year after the launch of his report into information integrity on digital platforms, the Secretary-General put forward a framework for coordinated international action to make information spaces safer and more humane, one... Misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and other risks to the information ecosystem are fueling conflict, threatening democracy and human rights, and undermining public health and climate action. Their proliferation is now being supercharged by the rapid rise of readily available Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, increasing the threat to groups often targeted in information spaces, including children. “The United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity aim to empower people to demand their rights,” said the Secretary-General. “At a time when billions of people are exposed to false narratives, distortions and lies, these principles lay out a clear path forward, firmly rooted in human rights, including the rights to freedom of... .page-hero-full .video_external { position: absolute; top: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; background: rgba(0,0,0,.2); } .page-hero-full video { z-index: -1; }

Information pollution is affecting the citizens’ capacity to make informed decisions. Disinformation, misinformation, and mal-information together with the growth of hate speech and propaganda, especially online, are inciting social divisions and creating mistrust in public institutions. In the past decade, significant resources by international development partners have been invested in tackling this growing global phenomenon that is also negatively affecting social cohesion in the region. Through different and numerous examples of government-led and independent responses to information pollution, societies in the region are showing that they have recognized disinformation to be a serious threat to their countries’ social, political... To raise awareness and understanding of information pollution as an important contributory factor to the growing security threats and development challenges in the Europe and Central Asia region, UNDP's Istanbul Regional Hub in collaboration... .page-hero-full .video_external { position: absolute; top: 0; right: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; background: rgba(0,0,0,.2); } .page-hero-full video { z-index: -1; }

- Political Narratives - Hate Speech - Gendered Disinformation 222 EX/16 Job: 2500667E Executive Board Item 16 of the provisional agenda COUNTERING DISINFORMATION, MISINFORMATION AND HATE SPEECH TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ACCESS TO INFORMATION SUMMARY Pursuant to 220 EX/Decision... It also provides suggestions on how to make these efforts more effective for the promotion and protection of freedom of expression and access to information, along with short-, medium- and long-term recommendations to Member... Decision required: paragraph 18. PARIS, 21 August 2025 Original: English Two hundred and twenty-second session222 EX/16 – page 4 5. Requests the Director-General to ensure that support is given to activities that will further advance UNESCO’s efforts in countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech to promote and protect freedom of expression and access to...

Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000387339/PDF/387339eng.pdf.multi • Platform Problems and Regulatory Solutions: Findings from a Comprehensive Review of Existing Studies and Investigations (2023). Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000385813 • Social Media 4 Peace: Local Lessons for Global Practices (2023). Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000386777. For other resources and tools developed by partners under UNESCO’s Social Media 4 Peace Project (2021-2024), see https://www.unesco.org/en/social-media4peace/resources?hub=180580 • Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms in the context of Generative AI (To be... Latest version (Version 3.2 for consultation) available at https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000393667 Elections, electoral integrity and rule of law • MOOC on Information and Elections in the Digital Era. Available at: https://knightcenter.utexas.edu/information-and-elections-in-the-digital-era-knight- center-and-unesco-launch-self-directed-online-course-in-four-languages/ • Elections in Digital Times: A Guide for Electoral Practitioners (2022).

Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000382102 • MOOC on Freedom of Expression, Artificial Intelligence and Elections (2024). Available at: https://www.kccourses.org/enrol/index.php?id=121 • Global Toolkit for Law Enforcement Agents: Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and Safety of Journalists, UNESCO (2022). Available at: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/global-toolkit-law-enforcement-agents • MOOC on AI and the Rule of Law, with the support of Open Society Foundation and UNESCO’s Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists (MDP) (2024). Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000390708, https://www.judges.org/ai_and_law/english/ Gender • The Chilling: Global Trends in Online Violence Against Women Journalists (2021). Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000377223 • Your Opinion Doesn’t Matter, Anyway: Exposing Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence in an Era of Generative AI (2021). Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000387483222 EX/16 – page 3 V.

Way forward and recommendations 17. Based on the actions above, including findings from the implementation of the Guidelines, and in response to 220 EX/Decision 40’s request for recommendations to Member States on countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech, it... This includes guaranteeing an independent and pluralist media landscape; universal access to information; as well as education that fosters critical thinking and MIL. • Enhance the capacities of relevant national regulatory authorities, including through engagement with the Global Forum of Networks of Regulators, on governance models that effectively address disinformation and hate speech, while upholding international human... • Strengthen the capacities of research institutions specializing in digital policies and support their contribution to the Internet for Trust Knowledge Network, enabling evidence-based, timely response to evolving technological developments. • Participate and contribute to local and regional-level initiatives on upholding online information integrity and digital platform governance, including via the implementation of the Guidelines at the national level.

• Support the development, implementation and scaling of MIL policies as a long-term strategy to build public resilience against disinformation and harmful online content, including through engagement with the Global MIL Alliance to foster... • Support UNESCO’s efforts in countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech within the Organization’s mandate, including in the framework of the Agenda 2030 and the implementation of the UN Pact for the Future and... Proposed draft decision 18. In light of the above, the Executive Board may wish to adopt a decision along the following lines: The Executive Board, 1. Recalling 220 EX/Decision 40, 2. Taking into consideration document 222 EX/16, 3.

Welcoming the information presented therein, including that on implementing the Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms (2023), fostering relevant multi- stakeholder networks and dialogues, and empowering citizens through media and information literacy, 4. Also welcoming UNESCO’s continued leadership and cooperation on countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech to promote and protect freedom of expression and access to information in relation to the 2030 Agenda, the World Summit... Empowering media and information literacy (MIL) 8. Another pillar of UNESCO’s work on this issue is the promotion of media and information literacy. By equipping individuals with the critical skills to assess and verify information, MIL strengthens their resilience to harmful online content. 9.

In 2024 alone, UNESCO supported 32 Member States in developing national MIL policies and integrating MIL into formal and informal education systems, through the localization of UNESCO’s MIL Curriculum. Furthermore, 24 Member States are piloting the Operational Guidelines: Constructing UNESCO Media and Information Literacy Cities, weaving MIL into urban planning, public services and civic engagement. 10. Also in 2024, recognizing the growing influence of content creators, UNESCO, in partnership with the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, launched the world’s first MIL training course for content creators, which has... 11. UNESCO is actively advocating youth and civil society as critical drivers of MIL.

Through the 2024 “Journey through the MILtiverse” toolkit and the Global Media and Information Literacy Alliance, UNESCO provides organizations with guidance and collaboration opportunities on combating disinformation, navigating AI and building resilience to hate... Last year, UNESCO supported 185 youth organizations in the Caribbean, Central Africa and Ukraine in their MIL efforts. 12. In addition, UNESCO annually organizes Global Media and Information Literacy Week. The 2024 edition “The New Digital Frontiers of Information” gathered over 1500 participants from diverse stakeholder groups worldwide and mobilized 200 additional events in 86 countries to tackle disinformation and hate speech through MIL. The related global campaign #PostWithCare reached 293 million users.

IV. Fostering collaboration, producing knowledge and raising awareness 13. To support the implementation of these overarching works, UNESCO leverages its global reach to launch and strengthen multistakeholder collaborations across all levels. Notably, the Guidelines’ principles have been integrated into high-level instruments, such as the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity, the OECD Recommendation of the Council on Information Integrity, and the Global Digital Compact. UNESCO also co-chairs the UN Information Integrity Working Group overseeing the implementation of the latter. Affirming the need for a concerted global response as outlined in the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, UNESCO joined 15 other UN entities in the UN Working Group on Hate...

14. At the 2024 edition of World Press Freedom Day in Santiago, Chile, UNESCO announced the “Global Roadmap for Information as a Public Good in the Face of the Environmental Crisis”, which outlines a comprehensive... The same year, UNESCO, in partnership with the UN and Brazil, launched the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change. 15. Recognizing that the spread of harmful content online is influenced by unique local contexts, UNESCO supported the launch of national multistakeholder mechanisms in five countries, as part of its EU-supported Social Media 4 Peace... The project trained over 1,300 CSO representatives, and published 10 reports examining the impact of harmful online content.

It also produced 28 policy and ICT tools to help address these challenges. 16. Recognizing the importance of multistakeholder collaboration in upholding online information integrity, UNESCO has developed numerous resources tailored for different stakeholders in this regard. A list of resources is available in the Annex.222 EX/16 I. Introduction 1. Pursuant to the 220 EX/Decision 40, this report outlines UNESCO’s actions addressing the growing impact of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech in the digital age.

It covers key achievements from September 2021 to September 2025, following the unanimous adoption of the “Windhoek+30 Declaration on Information as a Public Good” at the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference (41... 2. In line with UNESCO’s 41 C/4 Strategic Objective 3, 41 and 42 C/5 Outputs 6 and 8, UNESCO addresses harmful online content inter alia by fostering Media and Information Literacy (MIL) and by promoting... II. Building capacities in rights-based, multistakeholder digital platform governance 3. In February 2023, UNESCO held the Internet for Trust Global Conference at its Headquarters.

It resulted in the publication of the Guidelines for Digital Platform Governance (the Guidelines), designed to safeguard freedom of expression while combating disinformation, misinformation and hate speech. The Guidelines promotes a system-based, multistakeholder approach to governance and content moderation aligned with international human rights standards. 4. As part of the implementation of the Guidelines, UNESCO facilitated the launch of two networks. The Global Forum of Networks of Regulators, launched at the International Conference on Digital Platform Governance held in Dubrovnik in 2024, brings together seven international networks of audiovisual, electronic media and online regulators to... The Internet for Trust Global Knowledge Network unites 50 specialized international think tanks, supporting regulatory authorities with independent research and evidence-based strategies.

Countering Disinformation United Nations

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