On the 21 February, the 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.
“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.”
Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin
The Working Group is being co-ordinated by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports and Media and the membership includes:
- Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media
- Department of the Taoiseach
- Department of Justice
- An Coimisiún Toghcháin (Electoral Commission)
- Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications/National Cyber Security Centre
- Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Department of Health
- Department of Education/Webwise
- Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- Broadcasting Authority of Ireland/Coimisiún na Méan (Media Commission)
- Press Ombudsman
- Media Literacy Ireland
- Institute for Future Media, Democracy and Society (FuJo)/EDMO Ireland
- Irish Council for Civil Liberties
- Libraries Association of Ireland
- National Youth Council of Ireland
- Technology Ireland
MLI will be represented on this Working Group by Eileen Culloty with potential opportunities to add additional expertise or representation if needed in the future.
In addition, Martina Chapman, MLI National Coordinator, will also be serving on the Working Group as an independent representative and has been nominated to chair the Working Group.