IMS launches circle of experts to advise on digital legislation in Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine

Across Europe, disinformation is rapidly escalating hybrid threats, a trend significantly amplified by artificial intelligence, targeted online advertising and weak moderation policies on social media platforms. 

The entire Eastern European region is rife with conflicting narratives and manipulative discourses that are undermining trust in institutions and media, driving political polarisation and distorting public opinion by attacking credible and fact-based information sources. 

Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine are among the countries facing the highest risk regarding disinformation and foreign information manipulation – an unfortunate development that erodes social cohesion and puts dialogue and public debate at risk. 

Some hope to overcome these formidable circumstances has emerged in the form of the EU’s landmark Digital Services Act (DSA). 

This is the rationale behind IMS convening a High-Level Group of Experts for Resilience Building in Eastern Europe (HLEG), tasked to offer recommendations about a best way forward for a tailored implementation of DSA-inspired legislation in Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. 

The EU’s DSA has been chosen as exemplary for these countries not only to support their path to EU accession, but because it is a comprehensive product that has been created following years of debate around how best to identify and handle risks associated with the products of digital service providers. The DSA also recognises content moderation as a sensitive field that necessitates checks and balances between politicians, platforms and people.

“We are in a time when detecting false information from the truth is increasingly challenging, and where malign actors sow confusion and suppress groups in marginalisation, which is why IMS works to reclaim the digital space for truth and inclusivity by facilitating the work of the HLEG,” says Gulnara Akhundova, IMS Regional Director for Europe.

The HLEG consists of distinguished experts from the field of online regulation, notably including local expertise and knowledge from the Eastern European region. National expertise combined with the cooperation of international experts from the EU and beyond is critical for problem-solving in a global digital reality that rarely has borders. 

Though largely commended for this first-of-its kind regulation in the digital space, members of the HLEG are by no means bound to uphold the legislation to a golden standard, but are encouraged to offer recommendations according to their values and expertise.

“The implementation of regulations of course poses the risk of censorship and potential misuse by authorities in non-democratic societies. The DSA framework demands careful navigation to ensure freedom of expression while mitigating disinformation and harmful content,” says Maksym Dvorovyi, Head of Digital Rights, Digital Security Lab Ukraine and a member of the HLEG.

The HLEG will focus specifically on creating guidelines tailored to the respective country contexts for social media platforms to mitigate systemic risks during times of election. These guidelines will be developed alongside a framework for civil society to generate independent risk assessments to supplement or present alternative information found in the forthcoming transparency reports from “Very Large Online Platforms” and “Very Large Search Engines”, as mandated by the DSA this fall. Recommendations are expected ultimo 2024.

“It is my hope that our final recommendations will be able to inform not only lawmakers, but also civil society actors who are well-positioned to effectuate change and protect democratic dialogue in their respective countries,” says Liliana Vitu, Chairwoman, Audiovisual Council, Republic of Moldova, and also a member of the HLEG.

According to Gulnara Akhundova, the stakes for the three countries involved are high: “IMS recognises that only when policy and legislation are aligned with international standards can there be safety for journalistic work”. 

IMS’ work with the HLEG is supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

HLEG membership:

• Guy Berger, Independent 

• Pavlo Burdaik, Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (Ukraine)

• Oleksandr Burmahin, National Council of Television and Radio Broadcasting, Ukraine 

• Giorgi Davituri, Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information, Georgia

• Lucina Di Meco, #ShePersisted 

• Maksym Dvorovyi, Digital Security Lab, Ukraine

• Nino Macharashvili, ForSet

• Alexei Marciuc, Association “Comunitatea Internet”, Moldova

• Jason Pielemeier, Global Network Initiative

• Eliška Pírková, Access Now 

• Albertina Piterbarg, UNESCO  

• Christoph Schmon, Electronic Frontiers Foundation 

• Nina Shengelia, Social Media Council Georgia

• Elodie Vialle, Independent 

• Liliana Vitu, Audiovisual Council, Republic of Moldova

For additional information, please contact Colette Wahlqvist, IMS Advisor and Head of the IMS HLEG Secretariat on cosh@mediasupport.org.