Disinformation poses a serious threat to the foundations of democratic societies, challenging public trust, electoral integrity, pluralism and fundamental rights. The growing sophistication and scale of information manipulation, often driven by hostile actors and amplified by digital platforms, erodes the ability of citizens to receive reliable information and make informed decisions.
To address this challenge, the Council of Europe and Malta's Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism are hosting on 17 September in Kalkara the conference "Building Democratic Resilience to Disinformation", held under the Maltese Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
Facts, law and education to counter disinformation
The conference brings together policymakers, regulators, civil society, media, academia and the tech sector to examine the impact of disinformation on democracy and public trust as well as ways to counter it.
Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, said that disinformation is "a deliberate attack on the information ecosystem that sustains free societies." "The threat of disinformation-supercharged by the internet and Artificial Intelligence-is global. No nation can act alone", he added. He emphasised that multilateral solutions, grounded in cooperation and shared learning, are vital, including empowering individuals with media literacy and critical thinking as well as deepening cooperation with digital platforms to tackle harmful content.
In his keynote speech, Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge emphasised the need to build knowledge, strengthen our security and develop resistance to disinformation by providing practical tools to pre-empt and challenge the falsehoods that undermine democracy. "We can no more stop the tide of disinformation than we can stop the tide itself. The pervasive nature of disinformation poses a formidable challenge to our democratic societies. Fake news goes viral far more quickly than any virus ever did. But we can counter lies with facts, with law, and with education."
Speakers in the conference included the Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O´Flaherty, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Jan Braathu.
The conference discussions focus on strengthening societal resilience to disinformation through media freedom, media literacy, education, youth engagement and cultural initiatives. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of coherent national strategies, supported by international cooperation and the Council of Europe's expertise and standards. The conference will also showcase best practices from civil society organisations tackling disinformation across Europe.
Democratic security
Aligned with the call of the Council of Europe's Heads of State and Government at the 2023 Reykjavik Summit and with the Council of Europe's Secretary General's proposal for a New Democratic Pact for Europe, this conference offers a vital platform for dialogue, collaboration, and renewed commitment to safeguarding democratic values across the continent.
The conference will launch the Council of Europe's new project, RESIST: Strengthening Societal Resilience to Disinformation in Europe, funded by the EEA and Norway Grants, aimed at helping states to strengthen resilience to disinformation and empower young people through media and information literacy.
