Featured resources
Below you can find a curated selection of key resources from the entire resource centre. We update this page regularly to feature resources we believe are most relevant to the community.
How can the European Union safeguard our right to reliable news and information in the face of growing disinformation, and technology such as generative artificial intelligence with an unprecedented ability to manipulate content? With 100 days to go to the EU elections, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is proposing a 12-point New Deal for the Right to Information.
The OECD report 'Facts not Fakes: Tackling Disinformation, Strengthening Information Integrity' proposes a comprehensive policy framework encompassing enhanced transparency, accountability, and diversity of information sources, building societal resilience against disinformation, and improving governance and institutional measures to maintain a reliable information environment. And last but not least, it focuses on the benefits of prebunking and inoculation.
This article by Courtney Radsch discusses the European Union's recent passing of the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) and its implications for addressing the ethical, safety, and rights-based standards surrounding AI adoption. While the Act represents progress in regulating AI, it falls short in addressing existing harms caused by AI technologies, such as IP theft and algorithmic decision-making. The article highlights concerns regarding the Act's extended timeline for implementation, particularly in the context of elections and disinformation. However, it acknowledges the Act's potential to impact journalism and democracy positively by mandating transparency and copyright compliance in AI usage.
The paper was drafted by our external consultant Dr. Talita Dias, Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (ELAC), University of Oxford. The paper complements the Declaration of principles for content and platform governance in times of crisis by outlining the legal foundations on which the Declaration is grounded. Those foundations are made up of three key legal frameworks that apply concurrently to online content governance in different types of crises: international humanitarian law; international criminal law; and international human rights law.
This study by the Bertelsmann Stiftung examines the increasing polarisation and fragmentation of public opinion in Europe, covering the key aspects of the role of misinformation and disinformation in shaping public discourse, the impact of algorithm-driven content on political polarisation, and the strategies employed by various actors to manipulate public opinion.
The Risks of Internet Regulation: How Well-Intentioned Efforts Could Jeopardize Free Speech - By David Kaye (March 2024)
In his article "The Risks of Internet Regulation: How Well-Intentioned Efforts Could Jeopardise Free Speech," David Kaye scrutinises the recent decision by the U.S. House of Representatives to pass legislation targeting Chinese media conglomerate ByteDance and its popular social media platform TikTok. The bill aims to address concerns about data privacy and national security, particularly regarding the potential influence of foreign governments on users' information consumption.
Kaye underscores the broader implications of such regulatory efforts, warning against the potential infringement on free speech and the transformation of the internet into a regulated space. This case highlights the complex interplay between security concerns, geopolitical tensions and the safeguarding of fundamental freedoms in the digital age.
This report delves into the intricate and evolving relationship between young news consumers and the current news delivery mechanisms, based on an eight-month-long research project involving 45 participants from diverse backgrounds. Despite recognizing the value of news in their lives, many young consumers express dissatisfaction or disinterest in traditional news formats, highlighting a growing divide between what they seek from news experiences and what is presently available. The report argues for the imperative adaptation of news delivery to cater to the needs and expectations of the next generation, emphasizing that bridging this gap is crucial for the news industry's sustainability and societal impact by 2030.
Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms - UNESCO, 2023
The Guidelines outline a set of duties, responsibilities and roles for States, digital platforms, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, media, academia, the technical community and other stakeholders to enable the environment where freedom of expression and information are in the core of digital platforms governance processes.
The Guidelines were produced through a multi-stakeholder consultation that gathered more than 10,000 comments from 134 countries. These global-scale consultations fostered inclusive participation, ensuring a diversity of voices to be heard, including those from groups in situation of marginalization and vulnerability.
The Guidelines are available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian.
The 2023 SDG16 Data Initiative report, published at the mid-point of the 2030 Agenda, presents an outlook on the situation for SDG16 according to the non-official data and with the latest evidence, outlines the main challenges ahead and makes recommendations not only on improving data collection, coverage and quality, but also on stepping up efforts to achieve SDG16 by 2030.
Edited by Daniel O’Maley, Waqas Naeem, and Courtney C. Radsch
In bringing together diverse voices and perspectives, this report is both a microscope and a telescope—offering detailed examinations of specific issues while also zooming out to consider their broader implications for the sustainability of journalism and news media in the digital and AI era. Through the lens of data, access, and transparency, we encounter a complex, interwoven narrative requiring not only attention but also action. As we move through a time marked by rapid tech advancements and shifting political landscapes, these key issues transition from being trendy topics to critical building blocks that can either support or weaken the future of media.
A diverse coalition of organizations representing civil society, media, and journalism has coorganised this 'Briefing Breakfast' on the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA) at the European Parliament. You can check the outcomes of our discussion and our proposed recommendations here.
Online Research Guide (2023)
Henk van Ess - Global Investiative Journalism Network
The Online Research Guide by Henk van Ess is the third and final guide released by the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) in concert with the GIJC conference, along with Investigating War Crimes and Investigating Digital Threats. The guide offers tips on how to search the biggest social media platforms and includes chapters on facial recognition search and online verification.
The report covers Meta’s human rights progress, actions and insights during calendar year 2022. It includes:
key findings of a foundational program tool, our comprehensive salient risk assessment;
detailed updates on prior due diligence; and
insights from country, crisis, language, and stakeholder engagement work.
Meta has committed to report actions and insights annually in the Meta human rights policy. Doing so helps Meta “know and show” its human rights risks, in the spirit of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. The inaugural report was released in 2022.
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