Facilitated by the Forum on Information and Democracy, States of the Partnership for information and democracy are launching two targeted workstreams to address urgent challenges related to private messaging platforms and climate and other environmental disinformation. Respectively led by Ukraine and Luxembourg and Armenia and Brazil, these workstreams will mobilize other countries, academia and civil society to develop concrete solutions.
Launched in 2019, the Partnership for Information and Democracy gathers 55 States committed to implementing democratic principles in the information and communication space. Since its establishment, it has held three ministerial summits and has played a key role in steering debates on information integrity and democracy.
As the world is still facing acute challenges regarding the governance of the information and communication space, Signatory States of the PID have decided to launch specific workstreams on top priorities. The first two workstreams of the PID will target information integrity on private messaging platforms and climate and other environmental disinformation. Facilitated by the Forum on Information and Democracy, these processes will gather different representatives from signatory countries, researchers and civil society experts.
“With these first two workstreams, we hope to move from defining problems we are facing to actual implementation of concrete solutions through public policies, regulation or concrete projects. We are very grateful to the States which have decided to support these two work streams. In a shifting world, it is essential to support what remains of multilateralism and international cooperation. A multilateralism of democracies is more needed than ever.”
Camille Grenier, Executive Director of the Forum on Information and Democracy
Identifying solutions to ensure information integrity on private messaging platforms
Co-chaired by Luxembourg and Ukraine, the workstreams on Identifying solutions to ensure information integrity on private messaging platforms will focus on the growing influence of private messaging services as channels for disinformation and propaganda.
The government of Ukraine, facing challenges related to the weaponization of private messaging platforms, emphasized the need to create a safer digital space where users’ fundamental rights are protected while countering malicious propaganda. The government of Luxembourg highlighted the importance of these platforms in supporting democracy, journalism, and civil society. Ensuring their security while addressing misuse remains a key challenge, and this workstream aims to develop solutions that strike a balance between combating disinformation and maintaining encryption safeguards.
Strengthening information integrity on climate change and other environmental issues
The second workstream, led by Armenia and Brazil, will tackle climate disinformation and other environmental challenges.
The government of Brazil launched the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change, an institutional arrangement to reinforce the work of researchers and activists to bring action against climate disinformation. In line with this work and the forthcoming COP30 hosted by Brazil, the workstream will reinforce policy actions.
Armenia emphasized the urgency of understanding the root causes, key actors, and mechanisms behind environmental disinformation, including issues related to biodiversity. With Armenia set to host COP17 on Biodiversity, this workstream will serve as a platform to explore the motivations behind climate and environmental disinformation and strengthen policy responses.
A action-oriented agenda for 2025
The launch of these two workstreams represents a structured and action-oriented approach to tackling disinformation in key areas.
Under the leadership of Armenia, Brazil, Luxembourg, and Ukraine, and in collaboration with interested States of the Partnership and civil society organizations, the Forum will convene a series of online and in-person meetings throughout 2025. These discussions will serve as a platform to identify challenges, facilitate policy exchange, and develop actionable recommendations.