UNESCO World Conference: participation of the Chairman of Arcom and REFRAM and adoption of a joint declaration by the networks of regulators

Moderated by Blanca Lilia Ibarra CADENA, President of Mexico's National Institute for Transparency and Access to Information, the session's objectives were to question UNESCO's proposals regarding the independence of the regulatory scheme; to examine national best practices in terms of the "regulatory scheme" through cooperation between the competent authorities, and to examine what enforcement measures would be necessary and proportionate.

On the sidelines of the conference, a joint declaration was adopted by six networks of regulators, representing all regions of the world. The Group of European Regulators of Audiovisual Media Services (ERGA), the Global Online Safety Regulators Network (GOSRN), the Platform of Ibero-American Regulators (PRAI), the African Communication Regulation Authorities Network (RIARC), the Mediterranean Regulation Authorities Network (RIRM), and the French-speaking Media Regulators Network (REFRAM) are all involved.

The declaration, which endorses the approach and objectives proposed by UNESCO in the digital environment, reaffirms in particular the support of networks of regulators and online safety for an independent online content regulation scheme, guaranteeing freedom of expression, while ensuring protection of democracy and other human rights.

The networks of regulators also emphasize that they share the desire to develop coherent regulatory schemes in all regions of the world in order to better meet these objectives, while minimizing the fragmentation of the digital space. They also affirm their willingness to contribute to the creation and animation of a common, multi-stakeholder global space for debate and the sharing of best practices in digital platform regulation.