On 17-18 March, the Committee of Experts on Freedom of Expression and Digital Technologies (MSI-DIG) held its second meeting. Due to current restrictions on travels and public gatherings related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held via videoconference.

The experts* have finalised one of the tasks entrusted to the Committee under its mandate - the draft guidance note on best practices towards effective legal and procedural frameworks for self-regulatory and co-regulatory mechanisms of content moderation. It is expected that the text will be submitted to the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI) for its Plenary meeting in May.

The second document in preparation by the Committee of Experts - a draft Recommendation by the Committee of Ministers to member States on the impacts of digital technologies on freedom of expression - was thoroughly discussed by members and participants, to ensure an all-encompassing and future-proof human rights based approach to the issues addressed.

* The Committee is composed of 13 members, comprising seven member States’ representatives, designated by the CDMSI, and six independent experts, appointed by the Secretary General, with recognised expertise related to freedom of expression, media and the functioning and broader impacts of digital technologies.