The Committee of Experts online safety and empowerment of content creators and users (MSI-eSEC) held its first meeting (hybrid) on 9-10 April 2024. The Committee is composed of member States’ representatives, elected by the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), and independent experts, appointed by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, with recognised expertise related to media law, information and internet law, online safety, automated detection and removal of illegal/harmful content.

The Committee of Experts is tasked with preparing a draft recommendation of the Committee of Ministers to member states on online safety and empowerment of content creators and users, by the end of 2025.

The meeting was opened by the Ms Irena GUIDIKOVA, Head of the Democratic Institutions and Freedom Department, who underlined the added value of the Council of Europe perspective to the existing debates and initiatives on how to improve the safety of the digital environment while protecting human rights, in particular freedom of expression.

The Committee of Experts elected Ms Nicole STELLOU (Greece) as Chair of the MSI-eSEC and Ms Marijana GRBESA-ZENZEROVIC (Croatia) as Vice-Chair. Mr Martin HUSOVEC and Mr Peter NOORLANDER were designated as drafting Rapporteurs. Ms Jennifer ADAMS was appointed as Gender Equality Rapporteur.

Committee members and other participants held constructive discussions on the scope, elements and structure of the future draft recommendation. For further information, see the MSI-eSEC website.