From Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
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Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, welcomed the establishment of a multi-stakeholder working group to coordinate sectoral efforts to combat disinformation and provide a joined-up approach that aims to reduce the creation and spread of false and harmful material.
The Working Group is aiming to complete the strategy by end-2023. There will be a public consultation as part of the process. The establishment of the Working Group fulfils a recommendation in The Future of Media Commission report, which called for a more coordinated and strategic approach to combat the damaging impact of disinformation on Irish society and democracy.
The Working Group is being co-ordinated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media. It comprises representatives from industry, academia, civil society and government departments.
Ms. Martina Chapman, National Coordinator of Media Literacy Ireland and an independent media literacy consultant, has been nominated to independently chair the Group.
The Future of Media Commission Report set out aims for the National Counter Disinformation Strategy and the work of the Group will reflect those aims:
Minister Martin said:
“I welcome the establishment of a Working Group to develop a new National Counter Disinformation Strategy, as recommended by the Future of Media Commission.
"We know that disinformation is complex and damaging. This means that no one approach can solve it. That’s why this working group has been established - to bring together key stakeholders across Government, industry, academia and civil society to develop an overarching Strategy to promote a joined-up approach that aims to reduce the creation and spread of false and harmful material.
"Amongst other things, the Working Group will look to review existing media literacy initiatives, identify tools and mechanisms to address disinformation and identify ways to better coordinate national efforts to counter organised campaigns of manipulation of internet users in Ireland.
"The group meets for the first time on 24 February and it is intended that the final Strategy will be published by the end of 2023. As part of the process of developing the Strategy, there will be a public consultation.”
The Future of Media Commission specifically recommended (Recommendation 8.8) that a National Counter Disinformation Strategy should be developed in consultation with all relevant departments and agencies, including Irish European Digital Media Observatory hub, industry stakeholders, news organisations, civil society groups, Irish fact-checkers and disinformation researchers.