IFLA Input for Report on Disinformation

IFLA responded to a call for inputs about human rights impacts of measures against disinformation, issued by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.

Concerns over – and dialogue about ways to address – the negative impacts of false and misleading information online have remained high on the agenda over the past months, particularly in light of prominent examples of health and electoral dis- and mis-information.

Disinformation, uniquely challenging in the increasingly dense and complex digital information environment, interferes with individuals’ ability to make informed decisions and realise their essential human rights. However, the new call for inputs by the UN Special Rapporteur also draws attention to the concerns about human rights impacts of measures which different stakeholders – from states to online platforms, human rights organisations and others – take to combat disinformation.

These include, of course, the impacts of broadly- or vaguely-defined “fake news” laws on freedom of expression and opinion; or internet shutdowns that bear a heavy cost on people’s access to information as a driver of development and rights.

In light of this, IFLA’s submission highlights the potential of media and information literacy interventions to help address the challenges of mis- and dis-information. Drawing on the global library field’s experiences, it points to some possible good practices and insights from the ongoing work and research in this field – from targeted and tailored outreach initiatives that can help reach those who are not currently in formal education, to scalability and replicability of interventions.

Of course, this is an emerging field. Our understanding of how media and information literacy interventions can be effectively leveraged against disinformation, pitfalls to avoid and ways to maximise impact, continues to evolve. That’s why the submission emphasises the need for more research and cross-stakeholder collaboration – and libraries can and do offer valuable practical and theoretical insights for this ongoing discussion.

 

Download the publication: [PDF-ENG]