The President of AMA (Audiovisual Media Authority), Armela Krasniqi has participated in the international Conference on the topic, dialogue between regulators and the main online platforms, organized by the Francophone Network of Media Regulators (REFRAM).
During the proceedings of the first day of the Conference organized in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Krasniqi led the panel on the topic, “Multilateral initiatives of the future, for the regulation of large platforms”.
With the participation of UNESCO representatives and senior representatives of the Belgian regulator, members of the executive board of the EU regulators and the International Organization of La Francophonie in this panel, in her speech, Krasniqi focused on the UNESCO Guidelines, appreciating that for digital online platforms (Google, META, TikTok, X), it is appropriate to propose that their regulations should not directly interfere with specific content, but focus on the processes that platforms use to manage content.
This approach helps avoid censorship while ensuring that the platforms’ operations comply with human rights standards. She appreciated the importance these Guidelines attach to transparency and accountability in requests for platforms to block or remove content, ensuring that these requests are justified and comply with human rights principles.
UNESCO is actively developing guidelines aimed at regulating online platforms with a strong focus on protecting freedom of expression and preventing the dissemination of harmful content, while still supporting accurate and reliable information.
In Abidjan, members of REFRAM, ACRAN, representatives of the main digital platforms such as META, TikTok, X, international experts and representatives of international organizations and regional integrated spaces, have shared the latest experiences and developments in the regulation of online platforms in the light of new regulatory models and initiatives being undertaken, such as the European Digital Services Regulation of October 2022, better known by the acronym DSA (Digital Services Act), which is also the first, legally binding instrument that addresses these challenges at the regional level. The DSA entered into force in February 2024.
Another important document is the Guiding Principles of Digital Platforms, drawn up by UNESCO in 2023, which aim to “preserve freedom of expression and access to information in a multi-stakeholder approach”.
The two days of the Abidjan Conference further deepened the discussions on the current challenges of regulating online platforms and finally the participating countries have signed the Declaration on Strengthening the Dialogue between regulators and large online platforms as well as the Voluntary Protocol of Commitments.
