Organization for Security and Cooperation

Topic: Safeguarding Electoral Integrity in the OSCE Region: Strengthening Media Freedom and Combating Disinformation in the OSCE Region

Since ancient times, democracy has constituted the cradle of a free, well-governed and law-abiding society. In this framework, elections embody the key structure of political governance and the capacity of citizens to elect their leaders through free and fair means is its most powerful attribute. In order to maintain the integrity, impartiality and fairness of elections, media independence is of utmost importance, as propaganda and disinformation can critically sway public opinion and, ultimately, interfere with the electoral outcome.

The weaponization of fake news and disinformation has been a pertinent problem in the OSCE region, exacerbated by the contemporary, generalised rule of law crisis. First and foremost, the right to freedom of expression as established in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 11 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, is severely hampered many states of the OSCE have adopted legal restrictions that decrease the autonomy of media. Journalists are frequently threatened, imprisoned, or physically harmed, especially in countries where legal norms are not firmly instituted. These circumstances demotivate reporters from undertaking unfettered reporting and compel media organizations to practice internal self-censorship to pre-empt counteraction. Such context serves to ensure that access to accurate information by ordinary people is restricted and this, in turn, deteriorates the media’s credibility and leaves the populace exposed to manipulations.

Another vital aspect is social media and the ever-increasing wave of fake news and misinformation, spread by them. Social media act as a means for spreading disinformation through state and non-state actors who seek to disseminate false information, manipulate elections, and create divisions in society. Indeed, they often outpace even the most aggressive efforts at fact-checking, leaving traditional media struggling to maintain their credibility.

Independent and free media is a bedrock of any democracy as it enables its citizens to be able to reason and discuss and to question their leaders. Disinformation does not only distort the perception of the population, it aggravates social fractures, weakens the integrity of elections, and enhances volatility. In the OSCE region, dealing with these challenges is central to the advancement of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The organization plays a crucial role in this regard. By providing recommendations, offering support and monitoring violations, the OSCE helps its member states uphold democratic values and safeguard media independence, therefore also strengthening the electoral integrity.