Regulating social networks: a democratic imperative

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16127 | 12 March 2025

Signatories:

Mr Didier MARIE, France, SOC ; Ms Sibel ARSLAN, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Denis BEGIC, Sweden, SOC ; Mr Jone BLIKRA, Norway, SOC ; Mr François BONNEAU, France, ALDE ; Mr Bertrand BOUYX, France, ALDE ; Mr Christophe CHAILLOU, France, SOC ; Mr Titus CORLĂŢEAN, Romania, SOC ; Ms Heike ENGELHARDT, Germany, SOC ; Ms Béatrice FRESKO-ROLFO, Monaco, ALDE ; Ms Gökçe GÖKÇEN, Türkiye, SOC ; Mr Claude KERN, France, ALDE ; Ms Bisera KOSTADINOVSKA-STOJCHEVSKA, North Macedonia, SOC ; Ms Yevheniia KRAVCHUK, Ukraine, ALDE ; Mr Eerik-Niiles KROSS, Estonia, ALDE ; Ms Miapetra KUMPULA-NATRI, Finland, SOC ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Dimitrios MANTZOS, Greece, SOC ; Ms Wanda NOWICKA, Poland, SOC ; Ms Fiona O'LOUGHLIN, Ireland, ALDE ; Ms Kate OSBORNE, United Kingdom, SOC ; Ms Tatjana PAŠIĆ, Serbia, SOC ; Ms Valérie PILLER CARRARD, Switzerland, SOC ; Ms Lucia PLAVÁKOVÁ, Slovak Republic, ALDE ; Ms Agnes Sirkka PRAMMER, Austria, SOC ; Mr Ivan RAČAN, Croatia, SOC ; Ms Sandra REGOL, France, SOC ; Mr Stefan SCHENNACH, Austria, SOC ; Mr Georgios STAMATIS, Greece, EPP/CD ; Ms Liliana TANGUY, France, ALDE ; Ms Susanna VELA, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Gala VELDHOEN, Netherlands, SOC

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

The political and societal risks associated with the development of social media have been growing for a number of years, leading to increased awareness of the issue. Social media have become the new ideological battleground, allowing narratives to be advanced that run counter to the rule of law and liberal democracy.

The fact that almost all social media are under the control of digital oligarchs contributes to the decline of pluralism and democratic debate.

Social media platforms and networks are no longer just a vehicle for spreading ideas that challenge our values; they manipulate their own algorithms to propagate the views of their bosses and destabilise democratic processes.

This was seen in Romania, where the presidential elections were distorted by a social media site and had to be cancelled. It is also being seen in Germany and the United Kingdom.

By abandoning their regulatory obligations, the main social media platforms, in the name of their vision of freedom of expression, are calling into question the policies that govern their activities.

The Parliamentary Assembly, which upholds the rule of law and the fairness of democratic processes, must encourage the Council of Europe member States to take the necessary steps to establish a benchmark in order to have an impact on the international arena.