News (Internet)
The Council of Europe supports the extension of the IGF mandate
A Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) +20 review and the extension of the mandate of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was approved on the 25 of September 2024 in Strasbourg. The declaration supporting the extension of the mandate of...
(Seulement en anglais)
Full version of the report on "The Metaverse and its Impact on Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Democracy" available for download
The full version of the report "The Metaverse and its Impact on Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Democracy" is now available for download. Jointly developed by the Council of Europe and the IEEE Standards Association, the report brings together insights from over 50 international experts. It...
(Seulement en anglais)
Regulation of Online Platforms in Ukraine: New Draft Law
What should be done to ensure a safe online information space resilient to disinformation, propaganda, and other harmful content? How should the work of information-sharing online platforms be regulated in Ukraine? What challenges does Ukraine face in integrating its legislation into the EU legal...
(Seulement en anglais)
Bosnia and Herzegovina Institutions, Academia, Civil Society, and Media Join Forces to Combat Disinformation and Hate Speech Online
European standards, including the EU Digital Service Act (DSA), require a multi-stakeholder approach to the protection from harmful content online, involving governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, regulatory and self-regulatory bodies, civil society, academia, and media. At a round table...
Council of Europe at the European Dialogue on Internet Governance 2024 in Vilnius
The Council of Europe will participate in the 2024 edition of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG), which brings together representatives of governments, international organisations, business, civil society, academia and the technical community to discuss in internet-related...
(anglais seulement)
Digital Companies and the Council of Europe launched in Strasbourg a new cooperation roadmap
The Council of Europe Digital Partnership established in 2017 includes 27 digital companies and their associations that pledged to cooperate on protecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law through a unique public-private initiative. A workshop organised in Strasbourg on 21-22 May 2024...
Abridged Report on 'The metaverse and its Impact on Human Rights, Rule of Law and Democracy': Now Available Online
Celebrating Safer Internet Day 2024
Following a process that began in 2023 and is set to be completed in 2024, an abridged version of the report "The metaverse and its impact on Human Rights, Rule of Law, and Democracy" is now available for download in electronic format. The document provides an overview of the principal issues...
Assessing the impact of immersive realities on human rights: Committee of Ministers informal meeting
In the framework of the Latvian Presidency’s priority of supporting the Council of Europe digital agenda, the Committee of Ministers is holding an informal meeting on 14 September to explore the potential impact of immersive realities such as the Metaverse, on human rights, the rule of law and...
Council of Europe international conventions presented in Argentina
Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department, undertook a working visit to Buenos Aires. On the 1st of August, he gave a keynote speech on "Trends and challenges of international cooperation in personal data protection and artificial intelligence" at an event co-organized by the...
Council of Europe actively engages in EuroDIG 2023 to strengthen digital governance
The Council of Europe demonstrated its strong commitment to bolstering digital governance and combating cybercrime through its active participation in this year's EuroDIG (European Dialogue on Internet Governance) conference, held in Tampere from June 19-21. The conference brought together...
Council of Europe at RightsCon 2023 in Costa Rica
From 5-8 June 2023, the Council of Europe participated in the 12th edition of RightsCon 2023, a global summit on human rights in the digital age. More information about Council of Europe at RightsCon2023 can be found on our website. On 6th June, the Council of Europe hosted in a hybrid format a...
Journalists and Members of the Press in Armenia Targeted by Pegasus Spyware
On 25 May 2023, a group of rights organisations and Internet watchdogs issued a joint report revealing that Pegasus spyware was used to surveil a number of public figures in Armenia, including at least five Armenian members of the press. The report, “Hacking in a war zone: Pegasus spyware in the...
ICCO European Forum in Strasbourg: Battling Misinformation and Communicating Truth
The next ICCO European Forum will take part in Strasbourg on 1-2 June. This annual Forum is an opportunity for PR practitioners across Europe to come together and discuss the most urgent challenges they face across the continent. Organised by ICCO’s European PR associations, the event is used to...
Students of the Netherlands Study Centre for the Judiciary visiting Strasbourg
On March 27, 2023, Mr Patrick Penninckx, head of the Information Society Department of the Council of Europe, gave a presentation to a group of students from the Netherlands Study Centre for the Judiciary visiting Strasbourg. The presentation entitled “Rules for the Digital Age” outlined the key...
Policy responses to security challenges in Artificial Intelligence discussed in Paris
The 4th OECD Global Forum on Digital Security for Prosperity took place in Paris on 13-14. This year’s theme is Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things. The Council of Europe was represented at the forum by Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department. On this occasion...
Slovenian Justice Minister discusses cooperation priorities in Strasbourg
On 30 November 2022, Dominika Švarc Pipan, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia, met with Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The two sides discussed the key priorities on the bilateral cooperation agenda, such as...
Council of Europe at the 2022 Internet Governance Forum in Ethiopia
The Council of Europe is taking part in the 17th United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) hosted by the government of Addis-Ababa (Ethiopia) from 28 November to 2 December. Held in a hybrid format under the theme “Resilient Internet for a Shared Sustainable and Common Future”, the IGF will...
8th Internet Governance Forum – GeoIGF 2022 held with the support of the Council of Europe
The 4-day conference was held in a hybrid format and hosted up to 20 thematic panel discussions. The GeoIGF 2022 gathered up to 45 speakers and 90 registered participants from public, private, civil society, and academic institutions. Topics discussed ranged from media literacy and disinformation...
European Seniors Union’s visit to the Council of Europe
On 18 November 2022, a delegation of the European Seniors Union’s undertook a study visit to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. Delegates were welcomed by Mr Patrick Penninckx, Head of Information Society Department, who introduced the institutional structure, decision-making processes and...
Macolin Community Conference on Sports Competitions Manipulation in the Digital Era
On 19 October 2022 Patrick Penninckx, Head of the Information Society Department, addressed the participants of the Macolin Community conference. Organised with the support of UEFA and the assistance of IOC, the event aimed to raise awareness on the needs and implications of tackling sports...
"Everyone has the right to freedom of expression"
Art. 10 European Convention on Human Rights