1st MSI-eSEC meeting

9-10 April 2024

2nd MSI-eSEC meeting

24-25 September 2024

3rd MSI-eSEC meeting

27-28 March 2025

4th MSI-eSEC meeting

21-22 October 2025

Επιστροφή The Commitee of Experts on Online Safety and Empowerment of Content Users held its 3rd Meeting

The Commitee of Experts on Online Safety and Empowerment of Content Users held its 3rd Meeting

The Council of Europe advances towards a draft recommendation on online safety and empowerment of users and content creators

The MSI-eSEC committee held its third meeting on 27-28 March at the Council of Europe premises in Paris to discuss the draft of a future Recommendation on Online Safety and the Empowerment of Users and Content Creators. Chaired by Nicole Stellos (Greece), the discussion focusd on a draft of a future recommendation presented by the two rapporteurs, Martin Husovec and Peter Noorlander.

Artemiza-Tatiana Chisca, Secretary to the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), opened the meeting reminding the committee members that the text should provide clear guidance for member states on how to navigate the complexities of online safety and empowerment of users, in a manner that supports freedom of expression online, and mindful of the existing standards of the Council of Europe.

The committee’s discussions were rich and constructive, leading to significant progress in defining the scope of the recommendation. The draft moves from the premise that ensuring online safety is essential for enabling users to express themselves freely and participate in online spaces. To this end, the recommendation will call for domestic legislation focusing on risk assessment and management by platforms, alongside mandatory and voluntary empowerment tools on platforms.

Drafting language was crafted to ensure that the focus on empowerment of users results in enhancing their ability to control their online experience. At the same time, platforms should not be relieved of their responsibilities in contributing to an enabling online environment, in particular by incorporating a safety and empowerment by-design approach into their practices.

A revised draft is expected to be finalised in advance of the 27th Plenary Meeting of the CDMSI, for consideration and subsequent opening to public consultation.

Maida Culahovic (Bosnia and Herzegovina) was appointed as drafting rapporteur for the explanatory memorandum that will accompany the recommendation.

The fourth and final meeting of the MSI-eSEC is scheduled to take place in Strasbourg on 21-22 October 2025.

 

>> For further information, see the MSI-eSEC website.

Paris, France 27-28 March 2025
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A non-exhaustive list of relevant Council of Europe standards and other documents

Conventions

European Convention on Human Rights

Artificial Intelligence

Cybercrime

  • Convention on Cybercrime (ETS No. 185) [Budapest Convention]
  • Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, concerning the criminalisation of acts of a racist and xenophobic nature committed through computer systems (ETS No. 189)
  • Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence (CETS No. 224)

Protection of specific groups

  • Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (CETS No. 201) [Lanzarote Convention]
  • Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CETS No. 210) [Istanbul Convention]

Counter-Terrorism

  • Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 196)
  • Additional Protocol to the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Terrorism (CETS No. 217)

Protection of Personal Data

  • Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (ETS No. 108) [Convention 108]
  • Protocol amending the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (CETS No. 223) [Convention 108+]

Committee of Ministers Recommendations

Media and Digital Governance

  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) + Macedonian version
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)13 on the impacts of digital technologies on freedom of expression
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)12 on electoral communication and media coverage of election campaigns
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)11 on principles for media and communication governance and  Explanatory Memorandum
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2020)1 on the human rights impacts of algorithmic systems
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)2 on the roles and responsibilities of internet intermediaries
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)1 on media pluralism and transparency of media ownership
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)5 on Internet freedom
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)3 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on human rights and business
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)1 on protecting and promoting the right to freedom of expression and the right to private life with regard to network neutrality
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2015)6 on the free, transboundary flow of information on the Internet
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2014)6 on a Guide to human rights for Internet users
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)4 on the protection of human rights with regard to social networking services
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2012)3 on the protection of human rights with regard to search engines
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2011)7 on a new notion of media
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2008)6 on measures to promote the respect for freedom of expression and information with regard to Internet filters
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2007)16 on measures to promote the public service value of the Internet
  • Recommendation Rec(2000)23 on the independence and functions of regulatory authorities for the broadcasting sector

Protection of specific groups

  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)16 on combating hate speech
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2019)1 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on preventing and combating sexism
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2018)7 on Guidelines to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of the child in the digital environment;
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2016)4 on the protection of journalism and safety of journalists and other media actors;
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2013)1 on gender equality and media
  • Recommendation CM/Rec(2009)5 on measures to protect children against harmful content and behaviour and to promote their active participation in the new information and communications environment

Declarations by the Committee of Ministers

  • 2019 Declaration  on the financial sustainability of quality journalism in the digital age (2019)
  • 2019 Declaration on the manipulative capabilities of algorithmic processes (2019);

Guidance notes

CDMSI

Studies and Reports

Article 10 of the Convention

CDMSI

Cybercrime

Protection of children

  • Lanzarote Committee 2022 Implementation Report  The protection of children against sexual exploitation and sexual abuse facilitated by information and communication technologies (ICTs): Addressing the challenges raised by child self-generated sexual images and/or videos
  • Lanzarote Committee 2019 Opinion on child sexually suggestive or explicit images and/or videos generated, shared and received by children
  • DGI-DGII 2021 Independent experts’ report Respecting human rights and the rule of law when using automated technology to detect online child sexual exploitation and abuse
  • Council of Europe 2019 Report Two clicks forward and one click back. Report on children with disabilities in the digital environment

Gender perspective

  • Commissioner for Human Rights 2022 Human Rights Comment, No space for violence against women and girls in the digital world
  • EDVAW Platform 2022 Thematic paper on the digital dimension of violence against women
  • 2021 Study on Protecting women and girls from violence in the digital age - The relevance of the Istanbul Convention and the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime in addressing online and technology-facilitated violence against women

Counter-Terrorism and human trafficking

  • Council of Europe Counter-Terrorism Strategy (2023-2027)
  • Group of Experts against Trafficking (GRETA) 2022 Study on Online and technology-facilitated trafficking in human beings (2022)

Studies and Reports European Audiovisual Observatory

"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression"

Art. 10 European Convention on Human Rights