THE CONSULTATION IS NOW CLOSED 

Governments are operating in a rapidly changing media and information ecosystem, which provides unprecedented opportunities to engage with the public but also presents challenges regarding how people consume and share information, affecting who and what they trust. Traditional and social media companies, individuals, academic institutions and public figures all have a role to play in ensuring new and evolving means of information collection and dissemination support democratic engagement.

That said, governments must play a constructive role in improving media and information ecosystems and in creating spaces for information sharing and dissemination in ways that build societal resilience to false narratives online and offline. To that end, the OECD has drafted ten Principles of Good Practice to provide policy-makers with guidance to address the spread of mis- and disinformation, and in turn strengthen information ecosystems and support democracy. They relate most directly to public communication interventions, but are relevant and applicable to guide a broader range of responses.

The Draft Principles of Good Practice for Public Communication Responses to Mis- and Disinformation (pdf) are based on the analysis and review of relevant emerging practices in the field of countering mis- and disinformation and the factors that make them effective.

The 10 Draft principles are based on:   1. Transparency 2. Inclusiveness 3. Responsiveness 4. Whole-of-society collaboration 5. Public interest driven 6. Institutionalisation 7. Evidence-based 8. Timeliness 9. Prevention 10. Future-proof

Examples include:

 

• Communication practices that directly aim to counteract mis- and disinformation and provide trustworthy information;
• Those related to supporting institutional frameworks that guide actions by all relevant government agencies, define their organisation and co-ordination within and outside of government, and provide the necessary resources to operate; and
• Those that seek to foster an enabling ecosystem in which governments drive a whole-of-society effort to build resilience to problematic content.

 

Given the rapidly evolving nature of the challenges faced, the creation of the principles and the practices that inform them will serve as a platform for further engagement among government and non-government partners.

 

THE CONSULATION IS NOW CLOSED

How can I get involved? The OECD is continuing to collect good practices, as well as input and feedback to support efforts to apply the OECD Principles of Good Practice for Public Communication Responses to Mis- and Disinformation. Share cases and examples of practices: What are additional examples of communication practices, institutional frameworks or government efforts to reinforce the enabling information ecosystem that should be shared to inform and illustrate the principles? Give your feedback: How can the OECD best support governments in their efforts to implement good practices and apply the principles? What are barriers to their application, and what analytical tools, engagement platforms or knowledge sharing initiatives might be put in place to help countries move toward the realisation of the principles? Send your comments, in English or French, to craig.matasick@oecd.org or carlotta.alfonsi@oecd.org before 28 February 2022.