Statement by the Secretary General Mantas Adomėnas on World Press Freedom Day

On World Press Freedom Day, we are reminded of the vital role of the free media in safeguarding fundamental human rights and fostering informed societies.

This year’s theme of the World Press Freedom Day highlights the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on press freedom and the media. While AI is revolutionizing the operations of media outlets across the world by providing tools for more efficient content creation, there is a growing concern over a global rise in AI-generated misinformation and disinformation, which puts whole societies at risk of information manipulation.

Ensuring public access to diverse, independent and trustworthy media outlets is crucial for protecting societies against disinformation. In our interconnected and deeply polarized world, mass cognitive warfare campaigns are increasingly used by autocratic regimes and non-state malign actors as a very powerful weapon to undermine free media, spread false narratives, interfere in democratic processes, and weaken human rights-based global architecture. The emergence of AI-generated deepfake videos or AI-based surveillance technologies further exacerbates the threats faced by journalists and human rights advocates globally.

The right of the media to collect and disseminate information, and right of every person to freedom of expression are at the heart of the Community of Democracies’ founding document, the Warsaw Declaration, which outlines 19 principles for the effective establishment and consolidation of democracy. Safeguarding information integrity has been at the forefront of the Community’s recent activities to respond to the threats posed to democracy by authoritarian regimes.

As we commemorate the World Press Freedom Day, I reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting global efforts to protect freedom of the press and freedom of opinion and of expression as fundamental values for strengthening democratic resilience and building inclusive societies.