At their meeting of 6 April 2022, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted the Recommendation CM/Rec(2022)13 of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the impacts of digital technologies on freedom of expression.

This important text, accomplished by the Committee of experts on freedom of expression and digital technologies under the supervision of the Steering Committee on Media and Information Society (CDMSI), is designed to assist States and public and private actors, in particular internet intermediaries, as well as media, civil society organisations, researchers, educational institutions, and other relevant actors in their independent and collaborative efforts to protect and promote freedom of expression in the digital age.

The Guidelines appended to the Recommendation formulate principles aimed at ensuring that digital technologies serve rather than curtail such freedom. They also provide recommendations on how to address the adverse impacts and enhance the positive impacts of the widespread use of digital technologies on freedom of expression in human rights compliant ways.