Published on 17 December, 2024
Digital Corporation Organization issues joint statement on Misinformation and the Role of Social Media Platforms
Riyadh, December 17, 2024: The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) has issued a joint statement on the “Misinformation and the Role of Social Media Platforms” to address ethical and privacy challenges, in line with DCO’s commitment to improving trust online and enable digital prosperity for all. Through the joint statement, Member States called for the implementation of measures to protect users from harmful content and foster responsible digital engagement. They highlighted ethical challenges that have emerged in social media, including issues of transparency, accountability, and authenticity.
To address these challenges, the DCO Member States announced a multi-stakeholder strategic initiative encouraging private sector participation to promote Online Content Integrity. First introduced during the 3rd General Assembly of the DCO in February 2024, and championed by the State of Kuwait, the Online Content Integrity initiative seeks to address challenges posed by misinformation on social media and streaming platforms.
Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO, announced the Joint Statement during a keynote speech titled “Enhancing Digital Trust: DCO’s Commitment to a Trusted Space” following the opening ceremony of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Riyadh. She said: “Misinformation is no longer a marginal issue. It is a terrifying digital pandemic, requiring urgent, united action. This year, to strengthen the international community’s response to the menace of misinformation, the DCO and its Members have joined forces to present the Joint Misinformation Statement. This statement is a collective call to action, emphasizing shared responsibility, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and the need to prioritize ethical standards when addressing misinformation. It lays the groundwork for governments, private sector entities, and civil society to join forces in combatting this growing threat.”
The initiative aims to advocate for the respect of social and cultural diversity, while combating online misinformation, by mediating between companies, governments, and other relevant stakeholders such as international organizations and civil society. Implementation of the Online Content Integrity initiative will be overseen by a high-level DCO committee at the ministerial level. DCO’s Member States through the joint statement furthermore reaffirmed their commitment to advocating the establishment of an inclusive, transparent, and secure digital economy.
The DCO also organized a high-level panel titled “Countering Misinformation: Collaboration to Build a Digital Future” during the IGF to discuss the implications of combatting misinformation and the implementation of the Joint Statement. Participants who joined Deemah AlYahya the DCO Secretary-General, in the panel included H.E Dr. Esam AlWagait the Director of the National Center of Information in Saudi Arabia, H.E Mohamed AlQaed the CEO of the Information & eGovernment Authority in Bahrain, and Khaled Mansour the Board Member of the Oversight Board in Meta, and Natalia Gherman, the Executive Director of the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate.
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About the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO)
The Digital Cooperation Organization is the world’s first standalone international intergovernmental organization focusing on the acceleration of the growth of an inclusive and sustainable digital economy. It is a global multilateral organization founded in November 2020 that aims to enable digital prosperity for all.
The DCO brings together the Ministries of Communications and Information Technology of its Member States, and is focused on empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs, leveraging the accelerative power of the digital economy, and leapfrogging with innovation to drive economic growth and increase social prosperity.
The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) brings together ministries of communications and information technology in 16 countries: the Kingdom of Bahrain, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Cyprus, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of The Gambia, the Republic of Ghana, the Hellenic Republic (Greece), the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Kuwait, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Sultanate of Oman, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the State of Qatar, the Republic of Rwanda, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – collectively representing nearly $3.5 trillion in GDP and a market of nearly 800 million people, more than 70% of whom are under the age of 35.
Through cooperation and strategic dialogue, we drive the facilitation of mutually advantageous cross-border legislation. The DCO seeks to establish within its Member States the optimal infrastructure and policies for the rapid creation of inclusive and equitable digital economies within which all people, businesses, and societies can innovate and thrive. The DCO’s vision is to work towards a world in which every nation, business, and person has a fair opportunity to prosper in the digital economy.
In pursuit of the Member States’ common interests, the DCO works collaboratively with governments, the private sector, international organizations, NGOs, and civil society to enable more inclusive digital transformation and the growth of the digital economy.
The DCO’s key initiatives include programs to enhance cross-border data flows, promote market expansion for SMEs, empower digital entrepreneurs, and advance digital inclusion among women, and the youth, and other underrepresented populations.
More information about the DCO can be found at
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