The Un Global Principles For Information Integrity Our Thoughts

The United Nations Global Principles For Information Integrity presents a vision of a future in which power imbalances are redressed so that a small group of actors - including technology companies based in a... The principles envision an information ecosystem that delivers choice, freedom, privacy and safety for all, in which people everywhere can express themselves freely and make informed and independent decisions. They put forward proposals to empower people all over the world by handing them greater control over the media they choose to consume, their own online experiences, and how their personal data is used. The principles offer support to all those working to share facts in the public interest, as well as the vulnerable or marginalized voices that so often bear the brunt of targeted disinformation and hate... Calls to action range from the legal obligations of States to the responsibilities of the tech sector to best practices for media and civil society. The integrity of information online has become a critical concern for global governance, prompting various efforts at the global, regional and national levels.

This includes at the United Nations (UN), which in June 2024 published the United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity: Recommendations for Multi-stakeholder Action, aiming to establish a framework for maintaining truthfulness and reliability... The UN Global Principles for Information Integrity were originally presented in a policy brief and subject to a multistakeholder consultation back in 2023. GPD responded to this consultation and provided recommendations to improve the text from a human rights perspective. We’re pleased to see that the final version incorporates several of our suggestions and specific recommendations, although we have some concerns about how these recommendations will be implemented. The UN Global Principles for Information Integrity seek to address the issue of false information that undermines democratic processes, fuels conflicts, and erodes public trust. The principles aim to set out a comprehensive framework to guide multistakeholder action for a healthier information ecosystem.

The document is grounded in five principles: societal trust and resilience; independent, free and pluralistic media; transparency and research; public empowerment; and healthy incentives. These principles and the entire document is underpinned by “an unwavering commitment to human rights”. The United Nations (UN) has unveiled a set of principles, known as the 'Global Principles for Information Integrity', to combat the spread of online misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. These guidelines aim to address the widespread harm caused by false information on digital platforms. The UN's Global Principles are based on five core principles: social trust and resilience, independent, free, and pluralistic media, healthy incentives, transparency and research, and public empowerment. The UN chief emphasized that the threats to information integrity are not new but are now spreading at unprecedented speeds due to digital platforms and artificial intelligence technologies.

These principles aim to enhance global cooperation in order to create a safer online environment. It was further highlighted that the spread of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech, and other risks in the information environment poses threats to democracy, human rights, climate action, and public health. This impact is intensified by the emergence of rapidly advancing Artificial Intelligence Technology (AI tech) that poses a growing threat to vulnerable groups in information environments. Stakeholders, including technology companies, AI actors, advertisers, media, researchers, civil society organizations, state and political actors, and the UN, have been called to take action under the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity. These principles should be used to build and participate in broad cross-sector coalitions that bring together diverse expertise from civil society, academia, media, government, and the international private sector, focussing on capacity-building and meaningful... Additionally, collaboration is required to develop multi-stakeholder action plans at regional, national, and local levels, engaging communities in grassroots initiatives and ensuring that youth are fully and meaningfully involved in the process.

To effectively implement the UN Global Principles at large requires developing a multi-stakeholder action plan at various levels such as at the regional, national, and local levels. These plans should be informed and created by advice and counsel from an extensive range of communities including any of the grassroots initiatives having a deep understanding of regional challenges and their specific needs. Monitoring and evaluation are also regarded as essential components of the implementation process. Regular assessments of the progress, combined with the flexibility to adapt strategies as needed, will help ensure that the principles are effectively translated into practice. Implementing these Global Principles of the UN will have certain challenges. The complexities that the digital landscape faces with the rapid pace of technological revamp, and alterations in the diversity of cultural and political contexts all present significant hurdles.

Furthermore, the efforts to combat misinformation must be balanced with protecting fundamental rights, including the right to freedom of expression and privacy. Addressing these challenges to counter informational integrity will require continuous and ongoing collaboration with constant dialogue among stakeholders towards a commitment to innovation and continuous learning. It is also important to recognise and address the power imbalance within the information ecosystem, ensuring that all voices are heard and that any person, specifically, the marginalised communities is not cast aside. Home | Resources | The United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity Technological advances have in a few short decades revolutionized communications, connecting individuals and communities on a previously unthinkable scale and presenting unparalleled opportunities for the diffusion of knowledge, cultural enrichment and sustainable development. They have in many ways raised ambitions for the integrity of the information ecosystem—where freedom of expression is fully enjoyed and where accurate, reliable information, free from discrimination and hate, is available to all...

While these advances have enabled the mass dissemination of information, they have also facilitated the spread of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech by many kinds of actors at historically unprecedented volume, velocity and virality,... Such risks encompass a range of current, emergent and future threats amid rapid breakthroughs in artificial intelligence technologies. This erosion of the integrity of information spaces can undermine people’s ability to exercise human rights and can hamper efforts to achieve peace, prosperity and a livable future on our planet. In this way, the task of strengthening information integrity presents one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Information integrity entails a pluralistic information space that champions human rights, peaceful societies and a sustainable future. Published on 24 June 2024, the UN’s Global Principles for Information Integrity sets an important international roadmap to enhance information integrity.

These principles generally reflect the recommendations elaborated and shared by the Forum with the UN Secretariat and the States of the Partnership for Information and Democracy. The organization stands ready to partner with the UN for the implementation of these principles and the right to reliable information. Following a consultative process, the United Nations published their Global Principles for Information Integrity on 24 June 2024. The Forum on Information and Democracy has contributed to the process notably through an official submission at the end of 2023. The organization also hosted a dedicated meeting of the States of the Partnership for Information and Democracy in September 2023 with the participation of Melissa Fleming, Under Secretary General of the UN. “We welcome this international guiding document which reflects some of the principles we have been advocating for since the creation of the International Partnership for Information and Democracy in 2019.

The principles on public empowerment, transparency and research, and independent, free and pluralistic media are particularly relevant. Implemented, they can ensure a more democratic information and communication space” highlights Camille Grenier, Executive Director of the Forum on Information and Democracy. The Global Principles include a call to action notably addressed to technological companies, artificial intelligence actors and States. These actions are largely aligned with the recommendations published by the Forum in its various policy reports. These include among others, transparency, independent oversight and accountability regimes for platforms, attention to sociocultural linguistic contexts and languages in responses, inclusive processes to develop social media policies and diverse teams within companies, fair... The Forum also welcomes the call on States to provide timely access to publicly held information, to abstain from conducting or sponsoring information operations, to ensure, protect and promote a free, viable, independent and...

In a significant development, the United Nations has launched the Global Principles for Information Integrity. These principles, unveiled by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, provide a comprehensive framework for coordinated international action to combat the alarming rise of mis/disinformation, hate speech, and other online harms, now exacerbated by AI technologies. The Secretary-General has issued an urgent appeal to governments, tech companies, advertisers, and the PR industry to take responsibility for the spread and monetization of harmful content. This highlights the need for a unified approach to tackle the growing issue of information integrity. The principles are rooted in the rights to freedom of expression and opinion, empowering people to demand their rights to truth and safety online. This focus on human rights underscores the importance of a trustworthy information environment for the health of our democracies and societies.

With the rise of AI-generated mis/disinformation, the principles emphasize the need for safeguards to ensure these technologies are used responsibly. The rapid advancements in AI require vigilant oversight to prevent the spread of harmful content. The UN itself is not immune to these threats, with staff and missions worldwide facing real-world consequences due to the erosion of information integrity. The principles aim to protect the UN’s efforts and uphold its mission across the globe. Technological advances have revolutionized communications, connecting people on a previously unthinkable scale. They have supported communities in times of crisis, elevated marginalized voices and helped mobilize global movements for racial justice and gender equality.

Yet these same advances have enabled the spread of misinformation, disinformation and hate speech at an unprecedented volume, velocity and virality, risking the integrity of the information ecosystem. New and escalating risks stemming from leaps in AI technologies have made strengthening information integrity one of the urgent tasks of our time. This clear and present global threat demands coordinated international action. The United Nations Global Principles for Information Integrity show us another future is possible.

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