Upcoming SEEDIG 2025 Session to Address Online Disinformation and Harmful Content

Council of Europe to Hold Session on Countering Online Disinformation at SEEDIG Conference

Freedom of expression continues to stand as a cornerstone of democratic societies worldwide, yet the increasing spread of harmful content online presents mounting challenges to social cohesion and democratic institutions. As disinformation, hate speech, and incitements to violence proliferate across digital platforms, the Council of Europe has elevated the battle against such content to the top of its priority list.

The Council’s Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression will host a specialized session titled “Countering Harmful Content and Disinformation Online” at the upcoming South Eastern European Dialogue on Internet Governance (SEEDIG) in Athens on October 10. The event aligns with recommendations outlined in the Secretary General’s Report 2025, “Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe,” which emphasizes the Reykjavík Principles of Democracy as a framework for member states to address emerging threats to democratic discourse.

The session will convene regulatory authorities, institutional representatives, and media experts from several countries across Southern and Southeastern Europe, including Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Italy. This diverse gathering aims to facilitate a robust exchange of experiences and best practices for tackling harmful content while preserving freedom of expression.

Participants will explore various regulatory approaches and strategies that have proven effective in combating disinformation without undermining democratic principles. Media literacy initiatives, which empower citizens to critically evaluate online content, will feature prominently in discussions as a preventive measure against the spread of harmful narratives.

The timing of this event is particularly significant as European countries continue to grapple with waves of misinformation surrounding elections, public health issues, and geopolitical events. The digital media landscape has transformed dramatically in recent years, with social media platforms becoming primary news sources for many citizens while simultaneously serving as vectors for targeted disinformation campaigns.

A key focus of the session will be examining how Council of Europe standards for countering online disinformation and hate speech can be effectively implemented alongside complementary EU instruments. The regulatory framework across Europe has evolved significantly, with the EU’s Digital Services Act and the Code of Practice on Disinformation establishing new requirements for platform transparency and accountability.

The Council of Europe’s approach emphasizes multi-stakeholder cooperation as essential to addressing these complex challenges. By bringing together governments, regulatory bodies, civil society organizations, media outlets, and academic institutions, the session aims to foster collaborative solutions that balance freedom of expression with protection against harmful content.

For those interested in attending, the event is open to the public, though online registration is mandatory. Following the conclusion of the session, organizers will publish a comprehensive summary of key takeaways and recommendations that emerge from the discussions.

This initiative reflects growing recognition that protecting democratic information ecosystems requires coordinated international efforts. As digital platforms continue to reshape how information circulates in society, establishing effective guardrails against harmful content while preserving open discourse represents one of the most pressing governance challenges of our time.

The outcomes of this session will likely influence ongoing policy discussions across Europe as nations seek to develop regulatory frameworks that are both effective in curbing harmful content and respectful of fundamental rights to free expression and information access.