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Ofcom publishes a discussion paper on hate speech classification and safety measures online

The UK's communications regulator, Ofcom, published a paper that discuss the existing literature on the effectiveness of a variety of safety measures applied by some online platforms at reducing hate speech online.

This analysis summarises the key findings, highlight gaps, and offer suggestions to shape the direction of future research.

It highlights the importance of assessing the accuracy of hate speech classification by conducting our own analysis of the accuracy of commonly used hate speech classifiers and exploring the implications for research on the effectiveness of a safety measure.

Oficina C releases report “Disinformation in the Digital Age”

The Office of Science and Technology of the Congress of Deputies, in Spain, published a report “Disinformation in the digital age” that delves into the causes and impacts of disinformation, as well as the mechanisms that can help combat it. This work gathers scientific data on the topic and aims to serve as a reference for members of Congress when adopting legislative initiatives.

How video-sharing platforms protect children from encountering harmful vídeos?

A new report from Ofcom reveals that 96% of children in the UK use video platforms such as TikTok, Twitch and Snap. However, it was found that not all young people have the knowledge/skills to use them safely, which leads to a greater risk of accessing content that could be harmful to children's physical and mental development.

Ofcom’s Report on “How video-sharing platforms (VSPs) protect children from encountering harmful videos" warns of the need for these digital platforms to adopt online protection measures such as age guarantees, access control and mechanisms for classifying, reporting and flagging content that is considered inappropriate for this audience.

Reuters Institute predicts the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the media industry

The Reuters Institute published a report “Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2024” which highlights the significant impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on media companies, particularly on the production and distribution of content.

According to a survey of 314 media leaders from 56 countries, 70% of respondents believe that AI and Generative AI will, on balance, lower trust levels in the news overall.

The report also warns of the need for journalists and news organisations to rethink their role and purpose with some urgency.

 

Reuters Institute predicts the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the media industry

The Reuters Institute published a report “Journalism, media, and technology trends and predictions 2024” which highlights the significant impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on media companies, particularly on the production and distribution of content.

According to a survey of 314 media leaders from 56 countries, 70% of respondents believe that AI and Generative AI will, on balance, lower trust levels in the news overall.

The report also warns of the need for journalists and news organisations to rethink their role and purpose with some urgency.

 

UNESCO reveals alarming increase in journalists killed in conflict zones

UNESCO figures show that at least 38 journalists and media workers were killed in the line of work in countries in conflict in 2023, compared to 28 in 2022 and 20 in 2021.

The last three months of this year in particular have already been the deadliest quarter for journalists in conflict zones since at least 2007, with the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East being responsible for a large majority of conflict-related killings.

Unesco guidelines for the governance of digital platforms

UNESCO has launched Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms.

The Guidelines outline a set of duties, responsibilities and roles for States, digital platforms, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, media, academia, the technical community and other stakeholders to enable the environment where freedom of expression and information are in the core of digital platforms governance processes.

The Guidelines were produced through a multi-stakeholder consultation that gathered more than 10,000 comments from 134 countries.

Finland Tops the New Media Literacy Index 2023

Finland tops the new Expanded Media Literacy Index 2023, with a score of 74 points out of 100, showcasing Finland’s remarkable achievement as the frontrunner in the sixth consecutive edition of the index since 2017.

The index, which includes 47 states, is published by the Open Society Institute – Sofia and measures the potential vulnerability to disinformation, with higher rankings and scores indicating better resilience of societies to the impact of disinformation and related phenomena.The model employs several indicators – the quality of education, media freedom, trust in society, and the usage of new tools of participation.

Portugal secures the 12nd position, across Europe, with 60 points.