Is the UN’s New Initiative the End of Free Speech Online?

The United Nations has launched its latest censorship initiative, the Global Principles for Information Integrity. This initiative reiterates familiar narratives from various nation-states but is now endorsed by the UN and its Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

The plan addresses the harms of misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech, calling for immediate action from governments, tech companies, media, advertisers, and PR firms. These entities are urged to avoid using or amplifying disinformation and hate speech and to combat it through methods like algorithm manipulation, content labeling, and demonetizing offenders.

During the plan's presentation, Guterres stressed the importance of upholding human rights, including freedom of speech. He warned that billions of people are at risk from false narratives, though he did not specify which ones. He emphasized the need to protect democracy, human rights, public health, and climate action, mentioning that conspiracy theories and a "tsunami of falsehoods" are endangering UN peacekeepers.

This focus on regulating online speech marks a departure from the UN’s traditional peacekeeping role, raising questions about the use of member countries' taxpayer money. Guterres criticized algorithms that decide what content people see online, implying a critique of platforms like YouTube. He advocated for prioritizing safety and privacy over profit.

Additionally, Guterres called on advertisers and tech companies to ensure they do not inadvertently fund disinformation or hateful messaging. He claimed that the principles aim to empower people to demand their rights, protect children, provide trustworthy information for young people, and support public interest-based media in delivering reliable information.