Manifesto of Civil Society in Favor of Truthful, Free and Verified Information
Civil society, gathered in this Manifesto with the list of organizations, associations, and institutions, as well as individuals who endorse it, expresses its weariness with the lies, hoaxes, and disinformation that seem to have taken over the communication landscape. This practice, in recent decades, within the digital society and in a context of political polarization and exacerbated nationalism, has become a global industry, systematically employed on social media and in political life. We aim to establish a current of opinion arising from within organized citizens, one that will stem the growing tide that, due to its reach and scale, is invading even political debate itself, from social media and other platforms.
We are aware that we are subjected to a veritable pandemic of lies, a constant torrent of supposed news that is not news at all, falsehoods sold as authentic, and which fulfill what clearly defines deception: to say, invent, or convey something that is not true, and to do so with a specific intention. We are aware of the difficulty posed by the extraordinary power of technology, possessing an infinite capacity for dissemination and multiplication, whose generalization is given a false appearance of verisimilitude. As already
The fathers of Nazism established that a lie repeated a thousand times becomes the truth. Another deception, because in reality, that lie repeated a thousand times multiplies into a thousand other lies, reproducing itself ad nauseam.
Organized civil society must exercise responsibilities that extend beyond traditional issues. New challenges are leading us into new territories. One of its functions should be to strengthen dialogue and communication, based on evidence and facts, to create a robust citizenry and protect the most vulnerable. Traditional media have been, and must continue to be, a key component of a democratic society by informing and shaping public opinion. As part of a state governed by the rule of law, they are subject to a series of legal controls and conditions that have proven effective in guaranteeing press freedom while simultaneously safeguarding individual rights to freedom of expression and publication.
The current reality necessitates a level playing field between traditional forms of communication and new communication strategies. We therefore consider it essential to establish a common framework for the work of the media. To this end, the application and enforcement of Regulation (EU) 2024/1083 of the European Parliament and of the Council, adopted last year, is indispensable. Newer media outlets are the most vulnerable to the risk of disinformation. The most widely used platforms are dominated by sensationalist labels that, on numerous occasions, are solely focused on generating headlines.
We know that these commitments are only the beginning of a long and challenging journey. In any case, the effort is worthwhile when it becomes a collective endeavor. Let us not forget that the strength provided by citizen unity grants legitimacy to build a better and freer society, in which the rights of the social body are not supplanted by the lies and self-serving interests of organizations that seek to undermine democracy and coexistence for their own benefit. These organizations use deceptive tactics or clickbait to generate unverified data. They thus become a source of constant misinformation, especially among certain population groups who rely on them as their sole channel of communication.
From organized civil society, we issue a general call for unity in the face of these threats, emanating from unscrupulous organizations and anonymous power structures, which undermine rights that have taken many years to achieve. Therefore, we propose a series of actions to address this situation:
- Do not participate in any chain of hoaxes or in media outlets that spread them.
- Report all media outlets and publications that are based on lies.
- Educate people about the risks of spreading false or unverified information
- To offer formulas to avoid or minimize the consequences of lies
We know that these commitments are only the beginning of a long and challenging journey. In any case, the effort is worthwhile when it becomes a collective endeavor. Let us not forget that the strength derived from citizen unity grants us the legitimacy to build a better society, one in which the rights of the people are not supplanted by the lies and self-serving interests of organizations that seek to undermine democracy and peaceful coexistence for their own benefit.