UNESCO Launches Action Plan To Regulate All Internet Content And Social Media Platforms

The plans were announced on November 6th, which UNESCO boasts “is the result of a consultation process on a scale unprecedented,” with contributions from 134 countries and other stakeholders over the course of 18 months in the works. The action plan “outlines the principles which must be respected as well as the concrete measures which must be implemented by all stakeholders: governments, regulatory authorities, civil society and the platforms themselves,” UNESCO adds.

UNESCO noted: ‘Representatives from independent regulators have already welcomed UNESCO’s initiative, and several of them – notably in Africa and Latin America – have indicated that they are ready to begin implementing these measures. To this end, UNESCO will organize the first World Conference of Regulators in mid-2024.’

Of their plan seven tenets lie at its core:

1. The impact on human rights becomes the compass for all decision-making, at every stage and by every stakeholder.
2. Independent, public regulators are set up everywhere in the world, with clearly defined roles and sufficient resources to carry out their mission.
3. These independent regulators work in close coordination as part of a wider network, to prevent digital companies from taking advantage of disparities between national regulations.
4. Content moderation is feasible and effective at scale, in all regions and in all languages.
5. Accountability and transparency are established in these platforms’ algorithms, which are too often geared towards maximizing engagement at the cost of reliable information.
6. Platforms take more initiative to educate and train users to think critically.
7. Regulators and platforms take stronger measures during particularly sensitive moments like elections and crises.

In a speech upon the release of the document, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, in a speech spoken in French, began by citing a study that purports that over 85% of 8,000 respondents claim they are concerned about “misinformation” online and has affected their life, and their country’s governments and the outcomes of elections. Nearly 90% reportedly say ‘governments and regulators to resolve this problem quickly by regulating social media,’ as also noted in the press release.

Azoulay went on to explain how through UNESCO they have already partnered with and “trained some 5,500 teachers since last year,” mainly in Latin America and the Caribbean, to instruct their studies to spot misinformation. Howbeit that is not enough, she argues, and explained “we need to rapidly, while protecting freedom of expression and human rights,” which has resulted in the form of this action plan.

The second reason for UNESCO’s mobilization is its mandate. We are the
the UN agency in charge of defending and promoting freedom of expression, independence and pluralism of the media. As such, we have a long and solid expertise in global media media regulation, such as radio and television broadcasting.

These guidelines for the governance of digital platforms have been drawn up based on almost 10,000 contributions, from all continents and all walks of life – policymakers, regulators, researchers, NGOs, the private sector and civil society

Instead, the right response is to defend our freedoms: because free, high-quality and independent media and information tools are the best long-term response to disinformation.

The Director-General said in her speech

Getting into the actual meat & potatoes of 59-page document called “Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms,” the UN’s action plan details what Azoulay and the aforementioned 7 tenets entail.

In the opening summary of the document, UNESCO gives their thesis for these sweeping regulations:

Social networks, whose name holds so much promise, all too often become bubbles of isolation, cocoons of misinformation, which sometimes foster conspiracy theories and extreme violence. As virtual spaces for social interaction, they are beholden to algorithms designed to monopolize our attention, inadvertently favouring misinformation and hate speech by prioritizing clicks over certainty, probability over proof.

Yet if we can no longer distinguish fiction from reality, falsehood from truth, the foundations of our societies crumble. Democracy, dialogue, and debate – all essential to address major contemporary challenges – become impossible.

Furthermore, UNESCO states right up front that these standards should be adopted and upheld by all participating nations: “These Guidelines highlight overarching principles that should be followed in all governance systems that impact freedom of expression and access to information on digital platforms—independently of the specific regulatory arrangement and the thematic focus, as long as those arrangements are aligned with the provisions established in these Guidelines.”

The action plan specifies that all the nations and stakeholders participating will protect the likes of journalists (which presumably means the syndicated and approved media that is not slapped with “disinformation” claims), and protection of “artistic expression.”

SEE: United Nations Is Calling For The Decriminalization Of Pedophilia, Underage Sex, And Trafficking

But all forms of content that falls under mis- and disinformation, and conspiracy theories, shall be condemned.

Strongly discourage—including through measures such as professional codes of conduct—public officials from disseminating disinformation, including gendered disinformation; misinformation; and intimidating or threatening the media. Further, prohibit expressions amounting to advocacy of national, gender-based, racial, or religious hatred that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence, as prohibited under international human rights law, in line with the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech.

The document reads, explaining by what kind of speech will be banned

Of course, fact-checkers have their role in this:

Media outlets, fact-checking organizations, and the professionals within these institutions are important stakeholders and have a role in promoting the enjoyment of freedom of expression, access to information, and other human rights, while performing their watchdog function.

Therefore, it is necessary to involve the media and its professionals in the regulatory process, recognizing their role as active participants in positively contributing to the digital information ecosystem. A constructive relationship between digital platforms and credible news sources will enhance the role of digital platforms in providing information in the public interest.

The action plan explained

Moreover, buried deep near the end of the document, UNESCO provides extra special guidance during “crises” and crisis events, and armed conflicts, and civil unrest; which basically amounts to exacerbated censorship and only mainstream media narratives being acceptable.

As a human rights safeguard, digital platforms should conduct human rights due diligence to address crises, situations of armed conflict, and other emergencies, including public health emergencies. This due diligence should analyse the human rights impact of the companies’ operations, products, services, and advertising systems, on crisis and conflict dynamics.

During armed conflicts and crises, platforms should:

a. Ensure that content moderation in conflict settings includes robust human review, incorporating expertise in relevant languages and local and regional contexts.
b. Promote fact-checking.
c. Establish channels for meaningful and direct engagement with relevant stakeholders, including those operating in conflict-affected and high-risk areas.
d. Develop cooperation with trusted partners, independent media organizations, and other reliable flaggers.
e. Establish early warning systems and clear escalation systems for emergency situations to help detect imminent harm to individuals’ physical safety.
f. Implement policies to limit and track the monetization of harmful content linked to armed conflict.
g. Preserve all potential evidence of human rights violations or war crimes, granting access to this archived material to appropriate national or international accountability mechanisms.

Risk assessments may require digital platforms to have processes in place for cases in which many simultaneous requests for action by users are made, as sometimes happens in the context of social unrest or massive violations of human rights. The governance system should recognize existing guidance from UN agencies and experts for conducting “heightened” human rights due diligence in such scenarios.

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AUTHOR COMMENTARY

Most of the document is just marshmallow fluff, just giving vain guidelines to act like they are being equitable and fair, and setting up faux watchdogs, when it’s just the fox guarding the henhouse.

In short, as I have been reporting on all year especially, our time online is limited; and the whole internet itself is about to be totally flipped on its axis, and absolutely nothing outside of the mainstream narrative will be allowed. For me, it’s getting harder and harder to even search stories and find resources because the search engines are so insanely censored and shadow-banned. It’s honestly a miracle and through your prayers that The WinePress is at where it is at with the condition of free speech right now.

I will continue to keep serving until the door of opportunity is fully shut and I am locked-out.

[1] Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: [2] And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. [3] But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

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[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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