Madame Chair,
Distinguished Representatives of the DGC,
Delegates and friends,
Italy aligns itself with the Statement delivered by the European Union on behalf of its Member States and would like to add some additional remarks in its national capacity.
Over the past two years Italy, also as Vice Chair of the Board of the UN Committee on Information, has been working relentlessly in the face of the increasingly polluted global information environment.
Artificial Intelligence, strengthening information integrity and countering disinformation are among the priorities of the current Italian Presidency of the G7.
At the national level, the Italian Government is working on a new framework on AI encompassing many different fields, including the information sphere. During this election year, with more than 4 billion citizens at the ballot box, Italy carried out several campaigns, also broadcast on our state television, to raise citizens’ awareness of the risks of disinformation and bolster our society’s resilience.
At the multilateral level, Italy – together with the European Union – is proud to support the work of the UN Department of Global Communications on the UN Global Principles for Information Integrity, which we are now promoting widely among all stakeholders. We take this occasion to call, once again, on all Member States who haven’t done so yet, to promote these Principles among all relevant actors, namely tech and AI companies.
Moreover, Italy is committed to swiftly implementing the provisions contained in the Pact of the Future and in the Digital Global Compact under the chapter “Information Integrity”, with special reference to joint action to promote information integrity, tolerance and respect in the digital space, as well as to protect the integrity of democratic processes.
Italy notes with satisfaction that Artificial Intelligence is now clearly mentioned for the first time, with both its risks and opportunities outlined, in the annual Resolution entitled “Questions Relating To Information”, adopted last May by the Committee on Information and that will be adopted today here in the Fourth Committee. We are also pleased that the resolution now gives the Secretary-General the mandate to assess best practices and challenges in tackling misinformation, disinformation and information manipulation. While we call on all Member States to support the consensual adoption of this important Resolution, we hope that AI’s role as a tool in the fight against misinformation and disinformation, could be further explored by and within the United Nations.
Together, we must ensure that AI is addressed in an ethical, human-centric and inclusive manner that will decrease the gap in technological development.
Madame Chair, distinguished representatives of the DGC, colleagues,
Independent, free and pluralistic media are the backbone of democratic societies and healthy information ecosystems. A few days ago, we commemorated the 10th Anniversary of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists. Italy, also as a member of the Group of Friends on the Protection of Journalists at the UN, remains dedicated to the full implementation of the UN resolutions on the protection of journalists, as well as to the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity, by boosting cooperation to prevent violence and abuses, prosecute perpetrators and ensuring a safe environment for media workers.
To conclude, against the backdrop of a compromised global information system, which unfortunately continues to undermine our democracies, to divide communities and to jeopardize the work of the UN itself, the Department of Global Communications plays an indispensable role. While we strongly commend its tireless work on information integrity worldwide, under the leadership of USG Fleming, we stay also committed to providing our unwavering support and engagement in the UN Committee on Information for the years to come.
I thank you.
