Today, 12 February, in Pretoria (Republic of South Africa), the UNESCO International Conference on Digital Platform Governance has commenced, organized within the framework of the Global Forum of Networks (GFN). Ukraine is represented by National Council member Oleksandr Burmahin.
Ukraine’s participation in the conference provides an opportunity to explore approaches to digital platform regulation – from algorithmic transparency and content moderation to countering disinformation and protecting human rights online. It also enables the adaptation of these practices to Ukraine’s own legislation and wartime context.
Oleksandr Burmahin joined conference participants from across the globe who gathered in Pretoria to develop common human‑rights‑based rules for the digital environment.
At the opening of the conference, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, Tawfik Jelassi, emphasized that digital platforms must operate in the interest of society, and that their moderation and rules cannot remain a private matter for companies, as these are issues of public accountability and human rights. He recalled that in 2022 UNESCO launched the “Internet for Trust” initiative, which brought together regulators, governments, academics, media, and technology companies, and that in 2023 it was transformed into the Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms – a multistakeholder approach grounded in international human rights law.
According to UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General, the information environment is under pressure: the freedom of expression index has declined by 10% since 2012, disinformation ranks among the top global risks, and between 2022 and 2025 around 1.5 billion people gained access to platforms, amplifying the scale of challenges. The spread of generative AI creates new opportunities but also intensifies bias, inequality, and harmful content, while existing rules are no longer sufficient. Therefore, he stressed, it is necessary to move from recommendations to coordinated action. A practical step in this direction will be the Pretoria Action Plan, adopted at the conference, which is designed to help regulators, platforms, academics, and civil society jointly set priorities for digital platform operations and strengthen mutual accountability.
On the first day of the conference, a high-level fireside chat titled “Where do we stand? What we achieved? What is left?” took place, during which participants assessed the stage at which the global community currently stands in implementing human‑rights‑based approaches to digital platform governance.
Three plenary sessions were held:
- First – “Moving from Principles to Action” focused on practical solutions for implementing UNESCO’s Guidelines at national and regional levels.
- Second – “Fostering Solidarity through Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration” explored ways to involve diverse user groups in co‑creating the digital environment.
- Third – “Navigating Current and Future Technological Disruptions” examined how emerging technologies are reshaping content moderation, information flows, market dynamics, and accountability mechanisms, and what solutions are needed to ensure these changes serve society.
Among the key topics to be discussed in today’s additional parallel sessions are the impact of artificial intelligence on content moderation, system operations, and other tools for managing the digital environment, as well as the search for governance models that meet ethical and human‑rights standards. The sessions will also focus on how practical instruments can be used to preserve information integrity, sustain public trust, and ensure people’s access to accurate data in times of crisis.
At a special workshop, participants will discuss safeguarding children and youth on digital platforms, particularly in relation to platform accountability and co‑regulation aimed at strengthening the safety of minors online.
For Ukraine, these issues are directly linked to information security, the protection of democracy, and the move toward European standards. Discussions on artificial intelligence, the crisis resilience of information ecosystems, and child protection are crucial, since it is precisely through algorithms and online services that disinformation, hate speech, and harmful content spread today. Consequently, they determine how well Ukrainian citizens – especially children and young people – will be safeguarded in the digital environment.
Background: The 2026 International Conference on Digital Platform Governance is taking place on 11–13 February at the University of Pretoria, Republic of South Africa. It is organized within UNESCO’s global “Internet for Trust” initiative and is dedicated to assessing progress in implementing UNESCO’s Guidelines for the Governance of Digital Platforms at different levels. The event brings together regulators, governments, digital platforms, civil society, academics, and international organizations to develop practical solutions on algorithm transparency, platform accountability, countering disinformation and hate speech, strengthening the protection of human rights online, and enhancing the resilience of democratic institutions against information threats.
The Global Forum of Networks (GFN), launched in 2024 in Dubrovnik, serves as a platform that unites national and regional regulatory networks. Its mission is to support the implementation of UNESCO’s Guidelines and the joint action plan for digital platform governance based on human rights.
