News (Internet)
Abridged Report on 'The metaverse and its Impact on Human Rights, Rule of Law and Democracy': Now Available Online
Celebrating Safer Internet Day 2024
Following a process that began in 2023 and is set to be completed in 2024, an abridged version of the report "The metaverse and its impact on Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Democracy" is now available for download in electronic format. The document provides an overview of the principal issues...
Assessing the impact of immersive realities on human rights: Committee of Ministers informal meeting
In the framework of the Latvian Presidency’s priority of supporting the Council of Europe digital agenda, the Committee of Ministers is holding an informal meeting on 14 September to explore the potential impact of immersive realities such as the Metaverse, on human rights, the rule of law and...
Council of Europe international conventions presented in Argentina
Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department, undertook a working visit to Buenos Aires. On the 1st of August, he gave a keynote speech on "Trends and challenges of international cooperation in personal data protection and artificial intelligence" at an event co-organized by the...
Council of Europe actively engages in EuroDIG 2023 to strengthen digital governance
The Council of Europe demonstrated its strong commitment to bolstering digital governance and combating cybercrime through its active participation in this year's EuroDIG (European Dialogue on Internet Governance) conference, held in Tampere from June 19-21. The conference brought together...
Council of Europe at RightsCon 2023 in Costa Rica
From 5-8 June 2023, the Council of Europe participated in the 12th edition of RightsCon 2023, a global summit on human rights in the digital age. More information about Council of Europe at RightsCon2023 can be found on our website. On 6th June, the Council of Europe hosted in a hybrid format a...
Journalists and Members of the Press in Armenia Targeted by Pegasus Spyware
On 25 May 2023, a group of rights organisations and Internet watchdogs issued a joint report revealing that Pegasus spyware was used to surveil a number of public figures in Armenia, including at least five Armenian members of the press. The report, “Hacking in a war zone: Pegasus spyware in the...
ICCO European Forum in Strasbourg: Battling Misinformation and Communicating Truth
The next ICCO European Forum will take part in Strasbourg on 1-2 June. This annual Forum is an opportunity for PR practitioners across Europe to come together and discuss the most urgent challenges they face across the continent. Organised by ICCO’s European PR associations, the event is used to...
Students of the Netherlands Study Centre for the Judiciary visiting Strasbourg
On March 27, 2023, Mr Patrick Penninckx, head of the Information Society Department of the Council of Europe, gave a presentation to a group of students from the Netherlands Study Centre for the Judiciary visiting Strasbourg. The presentation entitled “Rules for the Digital Age” outlined the key...
Policy responses to security challenges in Artificial Intelligence discussed in Paris
The 4th OECD Global Forum on Digital Security for Prosperity took place in Paris on 13-14. This year’s theme is Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things. The Council of Europe was represented at the forum by Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department. On this occasion...
Slovenian Justice Minister discusses cooperation priorities in Strasbourg
On 30 November 2022, Dominika Švarc Pipan, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia, met with Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The two sides discussed the key priorities on the bilateral cooperation agenda, such as...
Council of Europe at the 2022 Internet Governance Forum in Ethiopia
The Council of Europe is taking part in the 17th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia) from 28 November to 2 December. Held in a hybrid format under the theme “Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future”, the IGF will...
8th Internet Governance Forum – GeoIGF 2022 held with the support of the Council of Europe
The 4-day conference was held in a hybrid format and hosted up to 20 thematic panel discussions. The GeoIGF 2022 gathered up to 45 speakers and 90 registered participants from public, private, civil society, and academic institutions. Topics discussed ranged from media literacy and disinformation...
European Seniors Union’s visit to the Council of Europe
On 18 November 2022, a delegation of the European Seniors Union’s undertook a study visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Delegates were welcomed by Mr Patrick Penninckx, Head of Information Society Department, who introduced the institutional structure, decision-making processes and...
Macolin Community Conference on Sports Competitions Manipulation in the Digital Era
On 19 October 2022 Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department, addressed the participants of the Macolin Community conference. Organised with the support of UEFA and the assistance of IOC, the event aimed to raise awareness on the needs and implications of tackling sports...
Consultation of European stakeholders on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the UN Plan of Action discussed in Brussels
Artemiza Chisca, Head of the Media and Internet Governance Division and Giulia Lucchese, Secretary to the Expert Committee on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (MSI-SLP), participated in a consultation on the implementation of the UN plan of action on the safety of journalists and...
Council of Europe AI work presented at Leuven University
On 16 September, 2022, Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department, presented the Council of Europe work on Artificial Intelligence at Leuven University. The Summer School on the Law, Ethics and Policy of AI aimed to provide participants with a better understanding of AI...
Council of Europe Digital Partnership: two new partners
The International Chamber of Commerce and The LEGO Group have joined the Council of Europe’s Digital Partnership, an initiative aimed at fostering cooperation with companies and their business associations to promote respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the internet. During...
Council of Europe @Eurodig2022
The Council of Europe participated in the 2022 edition of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG). Relevant Organisation’s work and standards were shared in debates taking place in a hybrid format, in Trieste from 20-22 June. Director of Information Society - Action against Crime...
Pegasus spyware and its impacts on human rights
A new report investigating Pegasus spyware impacts on human rights has been launched by the Council of Europe on the occasion of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly. As rapporteur for the Council of Europe, Member of Parliament Pieter Omtzigt has been investigating the controversial...
Council of Europe launches in Rome a publication to promote digital literacy for seniors
On 16 of June 2022 a new Council of Europe publication entitled “The Digital Era? Also my Era!” was launched in Rome at the UNECE Ministerial Conference on Ageing promoting the spread of digital literacy among senior citizens. In her address, An Hermans, the author of the book and long term...
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