Nobel laureates' manifesto calls for action against online disinformation

Web Desk
September 03, 2022

Nobel peace prize winners call on govts to take action against threat technology poses to democracy by allowing online...

Social network words and social media logos are seen through magnifier displayed in this illustration taken, May 25, 2021. Picture taken May 25, 2021. — Reuters
Social network words and social media logos are seen through magnifier displayed in this illustration taken, May 25, 2021. Picture taken May 25, 2021. — Reuters


Some Nobel peace prize winners have grouped to call on governments to take immediate action against the threat technology poses to democracy by allowingonline disinformation, hate speech and abuse, reported The Guardian.

2021 Nobel laureates and campaigning journalists Dmitry Muratov and Maria Ressa have created a 10-point manifesto which they presented in Oslo on Friday.

The group warned about the "existential threat" to democracies and said that business models were undermining technology's harmful potential.

Meta is reportedly developing a customer service solely for those whose accounts have been taken down.

The plan said that the "Big Tech business model fixated on harvesting people’s data and attention". It added that journalism was undermined due to these models and it "polariseddebate in society and political life".

Eight other awardees of the Nobel prize endorsed the proposal. It was presented atthe freedom of expression conference at the Nobel Peace Center in Norway.

There were three demands including the demand to endthe “surveillance-for-profit” business model. The plan also urged governments and newsrooms to allow independent journalism.

The team had six proposals for the European Union. One of them was to "enforce" tech companies to ensure the end of disinformation. They also called on the UN for the safety and protection of journalists.


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