The United Nations Security Council’s Challenges

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Expressed Opinions
Issue Aspects
Aspects Assessment
Conclusion
References

Introduction

One of the main topics that the UN has identified for special attention is the increasing amount of disinformation and misinformation in publicly important areas on online platforms. Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, mentioned the reduction of disinformation and misinformation on online resources as a priority during his term (ICC, 2021). The problem of disinformation has become especially serious during the COVID-19 pandemic, threatening public safety (ICC, 2021). The UN emphasizes the need to combat the spread of harmful content and incitement to hatred during the discussion of international conflicts (ICC, 2021). Combating these threats can open up new space in conflict management at a time when its more traditional tools may not be effective.

Expressed Opinions

The UN believes that misinformation on social networks is a threat to democracy, undermining the public’s trust in citizens. Foreign governments or agents can spread false claims on social media, negatively influencing voter opinion. Darrell West, a director of management at Brookings, argues that the media has an important role to play in the fight against fake news (Darrel, 2017). Public and private media must publish reliable information, destroying common myths. The main opinion is based on the fact that the state should make efforts to develop media literacy among the population. The World Health Organization is committed to conveying authoritative information based on scientific evidence (Fidler, 2020). The WHO has created the Epidemic Information Network, which brings together technical groups and social media teams that respond quickly to myths (Fidler, 2020). United Nations missions use all available channels to counter disinformation (ICC, 2021). All political parties and leaders recognize the importance of countering fakes on social media.

Issue Aspects

Fake social media threatens several aspects: public health safety, increased distrust in government, and hate speech during international conflicts. During COVID-19, conspiracy theories and misinformation about the spread of the disease have become especially popular (Quinn et al., 2021). The spread of fakes instilled panic and prevented society from adequately responding to a severe situation. Misinformation about vaccination increased the number of severe disease cases as people feared the negative consequences and did not get vaccinated.

The dissemination of misinformation during elections is especially dangerous: the users spread negative information that discredits candidates and the conduct of elections itself. People who are convinced on social networks that the elections are unfair may not express their position, which undermines the very principle of democracy (Vaidhyanathan, 2018). Discreditation negatively affects the opinion of voters and their ability to express an informed opinion. Representatives of foreign states can interfere in the dishonest conduct of election campaigns, the direct goal of which is to undermine the confidence of citizens in the authorities.

A serious threat to public safety is the discussion on social networks regarding international conflicts. Sharp political topics are often discussed on social networks, often such trends are aimed at inciting hatred. Incitement to hatred and enmity based on the principle of different political views can affect the security of all citizens. Such behavior provokes harassment of participants, the manifestation of racism and discrimination. Hate speech can provoke people to speak out publicly by organizing social unrest with serious consequences.

Aspects Assessment

All of the mentioned aspects of the spread of disinformation and misinformation in social networks require protective measures to mitigate the negative public consequences. Fake news spread during the COVID-19 pandemic can convince people not to get vaccinated, thereby preventing the globe from beating the disease. The fight against this phenomenon should remain one of the main tasks of the UN and WHO. The dissemination of reliable information, informing citizens, and government promotion of vaccinations can help fight disinformation. It is necessary to inform citizens about the rules of Internet literacy, which can be used to distinguish false information. An active campaign to debunk myths about the negative effects of the vaccine must continue. The basis for such campaigns should be medical studies proving the safety of the vaccine for patients of all ages.

The topic of disinformation during elections is a serious threat to public security, as it undermines the general trust of the people in power and hinders the implementation of democratic principles. Fair elections should become the standard that does not allow the spread of rumors and conspiracy theories to influence their outcome. Public policy must remain open, ensuring maximum confidence of citizens. People need to be informed about all political aspects to make a truly informed decision.

Finally, the problem of fakes during international conflicts can undermine the stability of power and increase hatred in society. To combat this phenomenon, it is necessary to proceed with caution, as restrictions can be a violation of the principle of freedom of speech. The most adequate response policy would be the activities of the anti-terrorist community, identifying negative comments and quickly responding to them. To defeat the spread of disinformation during conflicts, there needs to be general government attention to prevent hate speech on social media from escalating into dangerous social movements.

Conclusion

The UN called the spread of disinformation and misinformation in social media one of the key points worthy of attention. This problem requires public and state attention, as it poses a threat to public safety. Fake news about COVID-19, hate speech during international conflicts, and political discreditation are the main areas of concern. To defeat this trend, a common response is needed, including myth-busting activities, citizen awareness, and monitoring of hate posts and comments.

References

Darrel, W. (2017). How to combat fake news and disinformation. Inside Politics. Web.

Fidler, D. (2020). The World Health Organization and Pandemic Politics. Council on Foreign Relations. Web.

International Crisis Group (ICC). (2021). Ten Challenges for the UN in 2021-2022. Web.

Quinn, E. K., Fazel, S. S., & Peters, C. E. (2021). The Instagram infodemic: cobranding of conspiracy theories, coronavirus disease 2019, and authority-questioning beliefs. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 24(8), 573-577. Web.

Vaidhyanathan, S. (2018). Antisocial Media: How Facebook Disconnects Us and Undermines Democracy. Oxford University Press.

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