Improving the communications and information ecosystem to protect the integrity of elections

Headquarters, Room XI, Paris, France - 8 February 2018, 09:00 - 13:00.

UNESCO colloquium “Improving the communications and information ecosystem to protect the integrity of elections” discussed the impact of social media and internet providers on political communication and ways of strengthening the integrity of electoral processes in collaboration with the national electoral bodies.

UNESCO organized this event in partnership with the Global Network Initiative (GNI), which is a multi-stakeholder organization of information and communication technology companies, civil society organizations, academics, and socially responsible investors, working collaboratively to promote and protect freedom of expression and privacy on the Internet.

The meeting was also aimed at assistting  electoral assistance providers with ideas on how to improve their electoral programs and activities. Representatives of regional organizations that undertake election observation missions upon the request of their Member States were invited.

This meeting was intended to provide social intermediaries and ICT companies with a platform to discuss existing and new measures aimed to the strengthen integrity of electoral processes in the field of media and communication and engage with UNESCO Member States on these issues.

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Panel I. Network availability, security and integrity aruond elections

Aiste Zilinskiene, Member of the Central Electoral Commission and Chair of Online Media Association, Lithuania

Constance Bommelaer, Senior Director, Global Internet Policy, Internet Society (ISOC)

Fernando Garcia, Executive Director, Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales, Mexico

Steve Crown, VP and Deputy General Counsel, Microsoft

Yves Nissim, Head of Transformation and Operation in CSR, Orange

Panel II. Enhancing the quality of information around elections

Andy O'Connell, Public Policy Manager, Facebook

Nana Gyan-Appenteg, Chairperson, National Media Commission and President, African Communications Regulation Authorities Network, Ghana

Divina Frau-Meigs, UNESCO Chair Savoir Devenir, Nouvelle Sorbonne, Paris; Member of the European Commission's High-Level Expert Group on fake news and online misinformation

Ludovic Peran, Public Policy and Government Affairs, Google

Rob Mahoney, Deputy Director, Committee to Protect Journalists

Getachew Engida, Deputy Director General, UNESCO (English only)

Judith Lichtenberg, Executive Director of the Global Initiative Network (English only)

Simon Pierre Nanitelamio, Deputy Director, UN Electoral Assistance Division, Department of Political Affairs (French only)

Patrick Costello, Head of Division, European External Action Service, European Union (English only)

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