Nobel Laureates Urge Action Against Online Misinformation

The Nobel Winners submitted a proposal calling for the regulation of tech companies’ efforts to combat online misinformation

A group of Nobel Peace Prize winners has called on the government to adopt a technology action plan to tackle the “existential threat” facing democracies through online disinformation, hate speech, and abuse.

The 2021 Nobel Prize winners and Nobel Prize-winning journalists Dmitry Muratov and Maria Ressa gave the statement 10 points.

The statement, published in Oslo on Friday, warns that business models for popular internet platforms undermine technology’s ability to drive social progress.

The plan reads: “We urge rights-respecting democracies to be aware of the existential threat to the information ecosystem being distorted by Big Tech’s business models that focus on collecting people’s data and attention, even as it undermines serious journalism, polarizes The social and political debate is a life.”

According to the Guardian, the plan has three demands, “to end the ‘monitored for purpose’ business model that collects user data to maximize engagement and supports the efforts of advertisers at social media companies. Billions of dollars in spending; demanding that technology companies treat all users across the world on an equal footing, and urges newsrooms and governments to support independent journalism.”

In addition, the proposal calls on democratic governments to ensure tech companies conduct independent human rights impact assessments, introduce strong data protection laws, and fund and assist independent media under attack globally. The final proposal calls for the United Nations to create a Special Envoy for the Safety of Journalists.

The proposal has supported eight Peace Prize winners, including Nadia Murad and Lima Gbowe.

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