from Your News:
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged world governments to adopt a global framework to counter online ‘hate speech’ and ‘disinformation’, citing the threats posed by unchecked digital platforms.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for an international effort to “rein in ‘hate speech’ and ‘disinformation’ spreading online,” urging countries to adopt U.N.-led programs such as the “Global Digital Compact” to address these challenges. Speaking at the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations global forum in Portugal on Tuesday, Guterres warned that digital platforms amplify harmful rhetoric and misinformation, threatening global peace and stability.
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“We must rein in hate speech and disinformation spreading online,” Guterres stated, as documented in his remarks. “Hate-filled frenzies are perpetuating stereotypes and misconceptions. Misinformation and outright lies are fueling repulsive antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry, and attacks on minority Christian communities, among others.”
The U.N.’s campaign for global oversight of digital platforms intensified this month with the launch of the “Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change” during the G20 summit in Brazil. The initiative, spearheaded by UNESCO and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, aims to address climate-related disinformation by strengthening research and oversight measures, as detailed in UNESCO’s announcement.
U.N. Push for Digital Governance
Guterres highlighted the role of artificial intelligence in exacerbating the spread of disinformation, proposing the “Global Digital Compact” to establish international standards for digital accountability. This initiative, introduced in June 2023, seeks to create a coordinated global approach to regulate online content, enforce accountability, and combat harmful narratives.
“The proliferation of hate and lies in the digital space is causing grave global harm,” Guterres stated when unveiling the Compact, as reported by Breitbart. “This clear and present global threat demands clear and coordinated global action. We don’t have a moment to lose.”
The Compact outlines measures for digital platforms to address disinformation and proposes U.N. involvement in election-related content oversight.
UNESCO’s Focus on Social Media Influencers
On the same day as Guterres’ remarks, UNESCO emphasized the urgency of educating social media influencers on identifying and combating misinformation. The agency’s report, as noted by The Guardian, cited the lack of rigorous fact-checking by influencers and called for media literacy programs.
UNESCO has segmented its misinformation campaigns by topic, focusing on areas such as climate change, where it recently launched a global initiative to counter disinformation.
Controversy Over Censorship Measures
Critics have expressed concerns about the potential misuse of such frameworks for political censorship. Under Brazilian President Lula, efforts to combat disinformation have included controversial actions such as banning the social media platform Twitter until it complied with government censorship demands, as reported by Breitbart.
The G20 summit’s joint declaration echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for transparency and responsibility among digital platforms to address online harms, including misinformation and hate speech. The declaration, supported by Lula, called for international cooperation in regulating digital content, as outlined in the summit’s statement.
Strengthening Global Governance
Guterres concluded his address by advocating for enhanced global governance mechanisms to foster unity amid escalating digital and geopolitical challenges.
