In a recommendation to Member States on online safety and empowerment of users and content creators adopted on Wednesday 8 April, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers calls for a new generation of legal frameworks to address the twin challenges of the digital age: guaranteeing freedom of expression online while protecting individuals from disinformation, harassment, manipulation, unfair moderation and biased algorithms.
Basing its approach on human rights as guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights, the text sets out a series of principles clarifying the respective responsibilities of states, online platforms and content creators - the aim being to help them assume their responsibilities while giving users real control over their online experience.
Based on the notion of “empowerment by design”, the approach is intended to be both supportive of freedom of expression and protective, particularly for women, children and other groups at increased risk.
The recommendation stresses “the need for evidence-based, proportionate measures taken in the best interests of children to protect them from online risks, including through carefully designed, privacy-respecting age checks”.
Link to the recommendation: https://aeur.eu/f/lhf (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)