The General States of Information: guaranteeing the right to information in the digital age
France launched the States General of Information on Tuesday, an initiative aimed at proposing legislative changes and recommendations to guarantee the right to information in the digital age. These Estates General echo growing concerns about fake news, the control of billionaires over the media and the challenges posed by new technologies.
The objective of these Estates General is to set rules of the game to ensure the reliability of information, the independence of journalists and the protection of sources. Launched on October 3, they will run until the summer of 2024 and will result in proposed legislative changes as well as recommendations for the information sector.
To achieve these results, the Estates General places emphasis on citizen participation. The French are invited to make proposals during an online consultation open until November 12. This approach aims to mobilize the general public on the issues of information in the digital age, issues that have become hot with recent controversies.
However, mobilizing the general public will not be an easy task. On the one hand, these questions are often technical and difficult for the general public to understand. On the other hand, there has been a growing loss of trust in the media in recent years. Despite these obstacles, the Estates General also wishes to involve information professionals, by offering them the possibility of formulating their own proposals and by organizing hearings.
The Estates General is based on five working groups which focus on themes such as information space and technological innovation, citizenship, information and democracy, the future of news media and journalism , the fight against foreign interference and the State and regulation. Among these priorities, the quality of information occupies a central place, particularly at a time when social networks play a major role in the dissemination of information, with the resulting risks of disinformation.
In addition, these States General aim to protect the right to secrecy of sources, which is a fundamental pillar of journalism. They also emphasize modernizing rules on media pluralism and concentration, as well as guaranteeing the editorial independence of media against the influence of owners.
In conclusion, the States General of Information in France aim to propose concrete solutions to guarantee the right to information in the digital age. They are a response to the challenges posed by fake news, media concentration and technological advances. By mobilizing citizen participation and involving information professionals, these Estates General hope to produce legislative proposals and recommendations to ensure the reliability of information, the independence of journalists and the protection of sources.