Combating Online Disinformation, Hate Speech and Threats to Public Institutions

In a significant gathering of global digital policy experts, three critical panels are set to address growing concerns about online extremism, hate speech, and child safety in the digital age. The discussions bring together high-level government officials, tech company representatives, and civil society leaders from across the world, highlighting the increasingly international approach to tackling digital challenges.

The first panel, “Building resilience: protecting elections and public institutions from the political instability of online extremism,” features a diverse set of speakers including Jason Pielemeier, Executive Director of the Global Network Initiative, and Eileen Donahoe, Special Envoy and Coordinator for Digital Freedom from the United States. They will be joined by Joelle Rizk from the International Committee of the Red Cross, Anne Marie Engtoft Meldgaard, Denmark’s Tech Ambassador, and Brazil’s Solicitor-General Marcelo Eugenio Feitosa Almeida.

The timing of this panel is particularly significant as many countries prepare for elections in the coming year, with growing concerns about how digital platforms might be weaponized to undermine democratic processes. The discussion comes amid increasing evidence that online extremism has real-world implications for political stability and institutional trust.

A second panel, “Promoting fundamental freedoms and tackling hate speech and violence online,” will be held in the Grand Ballroom and features an even broader international representation. Brazil’s Minister of Human Rights and Citizenship, Silvio Almeida, will share the stage with representatives from Indonesia, India, and the United States.

Notably, this panel includes Nell McCarthy, Vice President of Content Policy Development at Meta, highlighting the crucial role that major technology platforms play in addressing online hate speech. The participation of Yunfeng Li, Deputy Director-General of Bureau of Internet Governance from China’s Cyberspace Administration, adds an important perspective from a country with a distinctly different approach to internet regulation.

The inclusion of Kristina Wilfore, founder of She Persisted, suggests the discussion will likely touch on gendered aspects of online violence, an increasingly recognized dimension of digital threats. Anita Gurumurthy from IT for Change will likely bring perspectives on how digital rights intersect with broader social justice issues, particularly in developing economies.

A third panel specifically focuses on “Protecting children and adolescents online and Media Education initiatives,” addressing what has become one of the most universally agreed-upon priorities in digital governance. With representatives from Australia, Kenya, UNESCO, the European Union, and TikTok, this discussion promises to explore both regional approaches and global platform responsibilities.

TikTok’s participation through Emma Leiken, their Global Head of Youth Safety and Wellbeing Policy, is particularly relevant given the platform’s massive popularity among young users and the ongoing scrutiny it faces regarding youth protection measures.

This panel’s focus on media literacy initiatives, represented by experts like Tanya Notley from the Australian Media Literacy Alliance, signals a growing consensus that technological solutions must be complemented by educational approaches to create safer digital environments for young people.

All three panels will be moderated by Brazilian officials, reflecting the host country’s increasing prominence in global digital policy discussions. Brazil has recently taken more assertive positions on digital governance issues, including challenging content moderation decisions by major platforms and pushing for greater transparency in algorithmic systems.

These discussions come at a critical juncture when governments worldwide are developing new regulatory frameworks for digital platforms, ranging from the EU’s Digital Services Act to various national initiatives addressing online harms. The participation of both government officials and industry representatives suggests a recognition that effective solutions will require multi-stakeholder approaches.

As digital threats continue to evolve and impact democratic processes, human rights, and child safety, forums like these represent important opportunities for cross-border knowledge sharing and potential policy coordination in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.