Note from UNHCR
Disinformation is by no means new, but recently the UN Secretary-General presented a report which aims to address the phenomenon of disinformation in the context of a new and rapidly evolving communications landscape, due to innovative technologies, which enable unrivaled volumes of deployment. content at an unprecedented speed.
“Disinformation comes in many forms, this includes targeted operations by states, state officials, conspiracy theories about health policies and vaccines, smear campaigns to undermine certain groups and people and many others,” said Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Ilze Brands. - Kehris, when submitting the Secretary General's report to the General Assembly.
The report states that navigating the modern media landscape and ensuring it advances, rather than undermines, human rights, international peace and security are key challenges of the digital age.
A major challenge posed by disinformation is its lack of definition says Agustina Del Campo, Director of the Center for the Study of Freedom of Expression and Access to Information (CELE) and Vice President of the Global Network Initiative (GNI).
"[It's] a broad term used to describe a complex phenomenon, for which there is no universally agreed definition," he says.
In a high-level panel discussion held at the Human Rights Council earlier this year(1), participants stressed that the spread of disinformation can have a negative impact on society, undermining various human rights. They note that when disinformation threatens human rights, states have an obligation to take appropriate steps to address the harmful effects.
However, “disinformation must not serve as a pretext to intimidate and harass critical voices, belittle opponents, justify censorship, or hinder the legitimate activities of human rights defenders and the media to access and disseminate information, (2)” says Brands-Kehris. "Responses to disinformation must be based on freedom of expression," he added while presenting the report to the General Assembly.
One way in which States can help reduce the risks associated with disinformation is by creating the conditions for human rights, pluralism and tolerance to thrive, the report said. Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan emphasized that “if independent public interest media cannot survive – let alone thrive – disinformation will thrive, journalists will be increasingly threatened and people's right to information will be undermined.”
The report describes media and digital literacy initiatives to increase the capacity of all stakeholders to identify, eliminate and refute false and misleading information as one of the tools to tackle disinformation.
States are central players in efforts to address the growing challenges and impacts posed by disinformation, but other actors also have an important role to play. Public officials have increased responsibilities to avoid the spread of disinformation, companies must expand transparency around their policies and responses to disinformation and expand research access to data to support more evidence-based responses and regulations, Brands-Kehris stressed.
“Governments must work to build trust including through strengthening media space and information literacy, empowering individuals to identify, critically analyze and combat disinformation in an enabling environment to have their voices heard in debate and decision-making,” said Brands-Kehris.
NOTE: Related to disinformation about Alzaytun Indonesia
All States have ratified at least 1 of the 9 core human rights treaties, as well as 1 of the 9 optional protocols. Eighty percent of States have ratified 4 or more. This means that States have obligations and obligations under international law to respect, protect and fulfill human rights.
- The obligation to respect means that States must refrain from interfering with or limiting the enjoyment of human rights.
- The duty to protect requires States to protect individuals and groups against human rights violations.
- The obligation to comply means that States must take positive action to facilitate the enjoyment of human rights.
- Meanwhile, as individuals, even though we are entitled to our human rights – however, we must also respect and defend the human rights of others.
Related to what happened to Alzaytun Indonesia, which seems to have happened to allow massive slander, hoaxes, utterances of hatred and malice in cyberspace, YPi Wira Tata Buana, Special Consultative Status at ECOSOC United Nations, had written a special report regarding efforts cornering educational institutions, based solely on disinformation that occurs in cyberspace.
Responding to all matters that constitute a disregard for human rights for Alzaytun Indonesia and its leadership. Shaykh Alzaytun Prof. Dr(HC) Abdussalam Panji Gumilang, S.Sos, M.P, always refers to what is currently being promoted by the United Nations (United Nations) through its Secretary General H.E Antonio Gutteres:
- Alzaytun Indonesia rejects all baseless accusations, and since its establishment in 1999, as a formal educational institution, Alzaytun has only provided education for the younger generation, and education is the most essential human right.
- Alzaytun Indonesia remains committed to carrying out the motto of its educational institution, namely "The center of Education, Peace and Tolerance Culture Development", a motto that is in line with what the United Nations expects.
- Alzaytun Indonesia, rejects the accusation that Alzaytun Indonesia is closed, because every step of the way, events held at Alzaytun Indonesia are always uploaded on the internet via websites, YouTube and other social media, while Alzaytun Indonesia's doors are always open to everyone, parties, however, Alzaytun Indonesia as an Educational Institution has its own rules regarding ethics and discipline as an Educational Institution (Boarding School)
- Alzaytun Indonesia rejects the notion that Alzaytun Indonesia teaches radicalism, intolerance, because for 24 years implementing the Formal Education program from elementary, junior high and high school levels as well as Higher Education, Alzaytun has only implemented the National curriculum, and there is no evidence on campus or outside ( for Alumni) who are involved in acts of violence.
- Alzaytun Indonesia asked the Indonesian Police to release The Grand Chancellor of Alzaytun Indonesia from temporary detention, because his determination as a suspect was only based on the one-sided perception and desire of those who are intolerant of diversity of opinion.
- Requesting the government, both central and regional (West Java), to prevent and stop all the slander and hoaxes that are spreading, before everything is too late and disturbs the peace of society, especially in the political year ahead of the 2024 Election