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Understanding and Addressing Mis-/Disinformation in the Afghan Media Ecosystem

Internews (2024), 21 pp.

"This report summarizes Internews’ six-month social media monitoring research conducted in 2023 that aimed to better understand the online mis- and disinformation environment in Afghanistan. [...] The first phase of the study revealed key aspects of Afghanistan's digital information landscape. The ... research found four common narratives around mis- and disinformation including the Taliban/Taliban de facto authorities’ threat to human and minority rights, loss of self-rule, the Taliban de facto authorities’ legitimacy as a governing body, and opposition to their governance. Most of the associated mis- and disinformation associated with these narratives originated from the Afghan diaspora. The research also found a gender imbalance in the digital discourse, with male-dominated discussions and limited female participation. Gender narratives on social media are mostly driven by men, often portraying women passively, and include disinformation tactics by the Taliban de facto authorities, such as falsely showing women's support for oppressive policies. Anti-Taliban sentiments included former government figures who significantly shape digital discourse and contribute to spreading disinformation including exaggerations or fabrications of the authorities’ actions. However, alongside anti-Taliban sentiments, there was a notable pro-Taliban commentary endorsing their governance and presenting them in favourable ways. Our findings for the second phase reveal several troubling trends. Many news stories feature clickbait or misleading headlines that don't align with the actual content. A significant problem is the presentation of unverified information as fact, which fosters public mistrust. Approximately 40% of false news stories lack sources, and over half rely on just a single source, affecting the depth and reliability of reporting. Additionally, there is a tendency to use sensational headlines and emotionally charged content to increase engagement, often sacrificing factual accuracy. The rapid spread of misinformation is also facilitated by exploiting audience behaviours on social media. Afghan media, particularly those dependent on donor funding, struggle to balance accurate reporting with the need for high audience engagement. Complex reporting dynamics in Afghanistan include protecting sources, relying on second-hand information, and the difficulty of verifying claims made on social media. While some media outlets endeavour to use diverse sources, the challenges of fact verification and maintaining reporting integrity persist. The report recommends establishing fact-checking initiatives, promoting digital literacy, and ethical journalism practices. For media outlets, transparency, audience engagement, and balance are key. Meanwhile, donors should prioritize funding for independent media, invest in technology, and support capacity building and collaborative reporting initiatives." (Executive summary, page 3) more

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How to enhance constructive public dialogue on social media in Uganda: Recommendations from a multi-stakeholder consultation workshop, in Kampala, Uganda, in November 2023

Bonn: Deutsche Welle DW Akademie (2024), 16 pp.

"In November 2023, DW Akademie brought together journalists, civil society organizations, digital rights experts, and media influencers for a consultation workshop in Kampala, Uganda. In the two-day event, hosted by Media Challenge Initiative (MCI), the diverse group collaboratively developed recomm ... more

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Fighting Misinformation Helps Social Cohesion and Early Recovery in Syria

Amsterdam: Free Press Unlimited (2024), 7 pp.

"By preserving independence, Syrian media is trusted to promote dialogue, providing a platform for diverse voices and fosters a culture of critical thinking and public debate, the media acts as a catalyst for inclusive recovery and sustainable development. It lays the groundwork for a resilient, dem ... more

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Breaking Barriers: A Whole-of-Society Approach to Gender Equality in Media Development

Sarah Macharia, Agneta Söderberg Jacobson, Malak Monir

Washington, DC: Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) (2024), 32 pp.

"In 1995, the international community enacted the “Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,” a watershed UN resolution affirming the global commitment to gender equality. Yet, nearly three decades later, gender inequality remains an intractable problem in the media sector. Women journalists ... more

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Connected Resilience: Gendered Experiences of Meaningful Connectivity through a Global Pandemic

Ingrid Brudvig, Sonia Jorge, Margaret Nyambura Ndung’u

Global Digital Inclusion Partnership (2024), 57 pp.

"Looking at patterns between those with meaningful connectivity — defined as having daily internet use with 4G-like speeds, owning a smartphone, and an unlimited access point at home, work, or a place of study — and those with just basic or no internet access at all, we saw key distinctions betw ... een women based on geography and education in our study sample which impacted their experiences of the internet. Across our six survey countries [Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ghana, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda], women with a tertiary education were nearly twice as likely to be meaningfully connected compared to their peers with less education. Women living in rural areas were three times more likely to lack internet access than their urban-dwelling peers, while women living in cities were over 50% more likely to have meaningful connectivity. Meaningful connectivity enabled women around the world to learn, earn, access government and financial services, and connect with family and communities, thereby also saving essential time and money in transport costs. Women’s educational level and having meaningful connectivity are the strongest predictors of finding information online or participating in the digital economy. Women int erviewed in underserved localities — such as remote villaes in India and impoverished urban settlements in Nigeria — reported restricted digital access due to: lack of infrastructure (such as mobile towers); high cost of devices and data services; income-generating activities and unpaid care work leave little to no time available to access connectivity or digital skills educational initiatives; dependency on men in their family to use devices [...] We propose four tiers of achievable solutions — and call attention to policymakers, investors, and the ICT sector at large to fast-track meaningful connectivity and inclusive digital development for all: 1. Deep investments that use substantial resourcing to make profound changes in a specific policy area or for a specific community. Universal Service and Access Funds (USAFs) represent a key mechanism across the majority world for deep investment strategies. When well executed, they provide clear interventions with measurable changes in the lives of affected communities. 2. Grand visions that combine years of effort with substantial funding resources to revolutionize the status quo. National broadband plans and other key strategy documents — when appropriately supported and resourced through implementation stages — represent a core example of grand visions within this space. 3. Easy wins that are comparatively discreet and specific changes that can still create tangible value at their scale. Gender data — collecting it, creating it, analyzing it, and using it — is a critical component to several easy wins that have been implemented in recent years. Policymakers can start from this level of research and measurement to make clear steps in the right direction. 4. Scalable systems that represent large, programmatic change in the pre-existing ways of working. Multistakeholder approaches and gender targets can provide the foundation for long-term, ongoing processes that scale progress towards closing the gender digital divide. By using policy and regulation to create mechanisms and procedures that consider digital inclusion, policymakers can build habits and routines that gradually and consistently change the course of history." (Executive summary, pages 2-4) more

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Fair Culture Charter

Bonn: German Commission for UNESCO (2024), 34 pp.

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Unveiling journalistic resilience: A blueprint for future crises

Syed Mubashar Hussain Shah, Babar Hussain Shah

Journalism (2024), [no pag.]

"This research article presents an examination of the findings and recommendations drawn from a series of focus group discussions (FGDs) with senior journalists. The main aim was to develop a strategy to safeguard the skills and well-being of journalists in the face of potential future pandemics or ... more

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AI in Global Development Playbook

USAID (2024), 46 pp.

"When used effectively and responsibly, artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to accelerate progress on sustainable development and close digital divides, but it also poses risks that could further impede progress toward these goals. With the right enabling environment and ecosystem of ac ... more

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Pathways for strengthening community feedback and complaints approaches in Papua New Guinea

London: CDAC Network (2024), 5 pp.

"Acknowledging the contextual challenges in Papua New Guinea, CDAC recommends the following actions to UNDP and other response organisations to strengthen approaches to two-way communication with communities in disaster response activities. 1. Utilise the newly established Community of Practice for ... more

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Bericht des Rates für die zukünftige Entwicklung des öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunks

Mainz: Rat für die zukünftige Entwicklung des öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunks;Rundfunkkommission der Länder (2024), 37 pp.

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Recommendation CM/Rec(2024)2 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on countering the use of strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs)

Council of Europe (2024), 10 pp.

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Strategy for International Digital Policy of the Federal Government

Berlin: Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (2024), 14 pp.

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Inteligência Artificial & Igreja: Reflexões a Partir da Mensagem do Papa Francisco para o 58° Dia Mundial das Comunicações Sociais 2024

Aline Amaro da Silva, Claudenir Modolo, Joana T. Puntel, Marcus Tullius, Magali Cunha, Moisés Sbardelotto, Ricardo Alvarenga

Conferência Nacional dos Bispos do Brasil (CNBB);CNBB Grupo de Reflexão sobre Comunicação (Grecom);Pascom Brasil (2024), 76 pp.

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La información como bien público fundamental para la democracia: Desafíos para el periodismo y los productores de contenidos informativos de interés público

Ricardo Corredor Cure

Proyecto Antonio Nariño (2024), 35 pp.

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Mitigating the Risks of Political Microtargeting: Guidance for Policymakers, Civil Society, and Development Cooperation
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Key Guidance

Jacob Kröger, Emilia Errenst, Niklas Nau et al.

Bonn; Eschborn: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) (2024), 63 pp.

"Digital technology has revolutionized how political ads are delivered and consumed, giving political campaigns increased possibilities to target and tailor their messaging to specific audiences—a practice known as political microtargeting (PMT). While PMT has potential benefits for society, it al ... more

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AI and the Environment: International Standards for AI and the Environment

Geneva: ITU (2024), vi, 43 pp.

"International standards provide the guidelines and benchmarks needed to measure and improve the environmental impact of AI. Codifying established best practices, standards help mitigate risks such as high energy consumption and lifecycle emissions. They also provide measurement methodologies to ass ... more

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Mapeo de Iniciativas de Alfabetización Mediática e Informacional en Iberoamérica - 2023

Plataforma de Reguladores del Sector Audiovisual de Iberoamérica (PRAI)

Paris; Montevideo: UNESCO (2024), 34 pp.

"Este documento presenta el Mapeo de iniciativas de Alfabetización Mediática e Informacional en Iberoamérica, realizado a lo largo de 2023, a partir de un cuestionario dirigido a los miembros de la Plataforma de Reguladores del sector Audiovisual de Iberoamérica (PRAI), a los medios audiovisuale ... more

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Digital Ecosystem Country Assessment (DECA): Ghana

Reyn Anderson, Yaroslav Eferin, Kate Gromova, Vlad Manoil, Victor Teppeh

USAID, Digital Frontiers Project, external version (2024), 149 pp.

"Ghana is among Sub-Saharan Africa’s leaders in digital transformation. Over the past decade, the government has put the key institutions, legislative frameworks, strategies, and policies in place that are necessary to drive change. The Ministry of Communications and Digitalization leads and coord ... inates development and implementation of a core set of policies and strategies that are digitally transforming the government, economy, and society. The ICT for Accelerated Development (ICT4AD) Policy has guided this journey for more than a decade. A new Digital Economy Policy is drafted and under review to drive the next stage of Ghana’s digital development. The National Financial Inclusion and Development Strategy and the National Cyber Security Policy and Strategy have also been key. Ghana adopted an inclusive approach to developing its cybersecurity strategy, which contributed to improved cybersecurity capacity and considered citizens’ online safety and freedoms. However, a clear strategy for protecting critical national infrastructure is missing. Ghana has been a pioneer and champion of digital government transformation in West Africa over the past decade, with funding and support from the World Bank. Important whole-of-government platforms and services have been put in place, including the Government Wide Area Network (GWAN), which provides internet connection to more than 1,000 district assemblies, hospitals, police stations, and post offices across the country; a National Data Center; the Smart workplace suite, which includes email and productivity tools for government employees; and Ghana.gov portal, a one-stop-shop for citizen services. Still, digital government transformation is incomplete. Easy, efficient, online government services are in demand, but the Ghana.gov portal options are limited, and most major government service providers have their own separate online services portals. The national identity Ghana Card could enhance digital service delivery by providing a universally recognized, secure, and easy-to-use means of digital identification and authentication for citizens when accessing both public and private digital services, but the current identification system is not integrated with other government-operated databases, significantly reducing its many potential applications. The Regional Coordinating Councils, and metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies (MMDAs) are just now embarking on the digital transformation journey. The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development coordinates their efforts. Challenges for Ghana’s remaining efforts at digital government transformation include adequate funding to manage and maintain its connectivity and data center infrastructure, affordable internet for regional governments, inadequate digital literacy and skills among mid-level and regional staff, or related national training programs. A big skill gap exists in cybersecurity; Ghana faces a deficit of skilled cybersecurity professionals. The government also needs to improve efforts at stakeholder engagement and awareness-raising when developing new policy proposals." (Executive summary, pages 11-12) more

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How society cares for the dead – a matter of human dignity!

Jörg Lüer (ed.)

Berlin: German Commission for Justice and Peace (2024), 48 pp.

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A Latin American Perspective on Global Governance for Digital Platform Accountability

CEBRI;Fundacão Alexandre de Gusmão;Instituto de Pesquisa Económico Aplicada (IPEA) (2024), 14 pp.

Mitigating the Risks of Political Microtargeting: Guidance for Policymakers, Civil Society, and Development Cooperation Top Insights Key Guidance

Mitigating the Risks of Political Microtargeting: Guidance for Policymakers, Civil Society, and Development Cooperation
Top Insights

Key Guidance