UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

59^th session

Interactive Dialogue with Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression

18 June 2025

EU statement

Thank you Mr. President,

The European Union is a staunch supporter of the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression and we welcome her report.

Freedom of opinion and expression, often described as the lifeblood of inclusive and democratic societies, is also fundamental to free and fair election processes. 

When the enjoyment of this right is threatened, electoral processes are threatened. 

When it flourishes it allows citizens to debate, discuss and make informed decisions on their choice of representatives. It allows independent media , that we should support through various mechanisms such as The International Fund for Public Interest Media (IFPIM) and promote through the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI), to play its crucial role of verifying facts, countering disinformation and providing a platform for diverse political voices. It allows candidates and parties to campaign freely, and public trust to grow in electoral processes and democratic institutions.

We share your deep concerns about the vulnerabilities highlighted by your report, including the surge of information manipulation in politically polarized contexts. In certain cases, disinformation and online hate speech are deliberately used as tools to distort electoral processes and undermine the enjoyment of fundamental rights, such as the right to information.

That is why the European Union has adopted and is implementing the EU Digital Services Act, which requires online platforms to mitigate systemic risks such as disinformation and hate speech in line with international human rights standards, thereby promoting information integrity, democratic values, and the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Madam Special Rapporteur,
How can States further cooperate to achieve greater transparency and enhance the accountability of online platforms that govern content online in a manner compliant with human rights compliant?