The United Nations chief on Monday launched global principles to combat online hate and lies and demanded that big tech companies use their power to reduce the harm they are doing to people and societies around the world.
UN Secretary-General Ant贸nio Guterres also demanded that advertising and public relations companies 鈥渟top monetizing harmful content鈥 and strengthen information integrity. He urged media outlets 鈥渢o raise and enforce editorial standards鈥 and governments to commit to creating and maintaining a free and independent media landscape.
Guterres said the principles, laid out at a news conference, are the result of consultations with the 193 UN member nations, youth leaders, academia, the media and civil society including tech companies.
The principles call on tech companies, advertisers, media and other key players to refrain from using, supporting or amplifying disinformation and hate speech.
All parties involved in the development of artificial intelligence should take urgent and transparent measures to ensure that all AI applications are designed, deployed and used safely, securely, responsibly and ethically, and uphold human rights, according to the principles.
They also call for tech companies to ensure safety and privacy and allow users greater choices and control over their online experience and personal data, and for all key parties to ensure special protections for children.
Guterres stressed that big tech companies have 鈥渁n outsized responsibility.鈥
鈥淭ake responsibility,鈥 he demanded. 鈥淎cknowledge the damage your products are inflicting on people and communities.鈥
Guterres demanded that the companies take action.
鈥淵ou have the power to mitigate harm to people and societies around the world,鈥 he said, 鈥淵ou have the power to change business models that profit from disinformation and hate.鈥
As for advertisers and the PR industry, the UN chief singled out the coordinated disinformation campaigns seeking to undermine action to address the climate crisis.
鈥淐reatives 鈥 don鈥檛 use your talents to greenwash,鈥 Guterres said. 鈥淧R agencies 鈥 look for clients who aren鈥檛 misleading people and destroying our planet.鈥
He called on the media to provide 鈥渜uality journalism based on facts and reality鈥 and find advertisers that are part of the solution, not the problem. And he urged governments to protect journalists, uphold human rights, refrain from internet shutdowns and other drastic measures and respect the right to freedom of expression and opinion.
Guterres said all countries should have a vested interest in not promoting misinformation, 鈥渂ecause sooner or later the truth is discovered.鈥
He stressed that the principles 鈥渁im to empower people to demand their rights.鈥
鈥淣o one should be at the mercy of an algorithm they don鈥檛 control, which was not designed to safeguard their interests, and tracks their behavior to collect personal data and keep them hooked,鈥 he said.
Guterres, when asked how the UN can ensure that tech companies and advertising and PR agencies take the UN principles to heart and take action, pointed to their staff who are parents, citizens and 鈥渁re interested in 鈥榙o no harm.鈥"
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