12/04/2019 Session
Approving a resolution based on a report by José Cepeda (Spain, SOC), the Assembly called for better fact-checking and content-moderation, identifying and warning users about inaccurate or false content, and blocking such material from being “liked” or “shared” in the most serious cases. Bot-generated content should be excluded from “trends”, the Assembly said, and tools developed which give community feedback on the accuracy and quality of content.
For their part, States should fully comply with relevant international obligations concerning freedom of expression and lay down national regulations requiring that social media providers ensure a diversity of views and opinions. They should also encourage “audits” of algorithms to ensure they respect data protection principles and encourage a diversity of views.
While social media make a huge positive contribution to society, their misuse are also “triggering numerous harmful consequences” for individuals, institutions and society, the Assembly pointed out – citing cyber bullying and stalking, hate speech, predatory behaviour online or harassment, as well as disinformation and manipulation of public opinion. It also said “data mining and profiling are phenomena which seem to have gone too far and beyond democratic control”.