In the current digital ecosystem a handful of powerful platforms dictate what users see and engage with through opaque and unaccountable systems. Profit-driven design too often comes at the expense of users' rights and information integrity. This can leave individuals exposed to risks, without the transparency and tools needed to make informed decisions about their online experience.
The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, representing the governments of the 46 member states, has adopted a new Recommendation to member states on online safety and empowerment of users and content creators, establishing a comprehensive human rights-based approach to platform accountability across Europe.
How would this recommendation help citizens?
The recommendation calls for greater transparency, democratic accountability and enhanced oversight by independent public authorities and civil society regarding how platforms hosting user-generated content, especially large ones, design their interfaces and algorithms, and assess and manage the risks they pose to users’ human rights and democratic processes.
This new legal instrument reaffirms that protecting users and robust safeguards for freedom of expression must be an integral part of platform accountability rules.
The recommendation promotes an enabling environment for freedom of expression online, where everyone, including women, children, and other groups facing increased risks, can participate freely and safely. Against this background, it offers states clear guidance on their legislation, regulation, and practices for addressing online risks and harms, such as disinformation, hate speech, harassment, and algorithmic discrimination.
The recommendation sets out principles clarifying the respective responsibilities of states, online platforms and content creators.
Empowerment by design is called for, to give users meaningful control over their online experience through tools and actionable rights, and to support content creators in meeting their responsibilities when generating and sharing material.
The recommendation stresses the need for evidence-based, proportionate measures taken in the best interests of children to protect them from online risks, including through carefully designed, privacy-respecting age checks.
Explanatory memorandum of the recommendation
Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
The Council of Europe’s work in the area of freedom of expression
