United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday demanded that major consumer technology firms take responsibility and “acknowledge the damage your products are inflicting on people and communities.”
Guterres criticized these unnamed companies and their social media platforms, stating, “You have the power to mitigate harm to people and societies around the world. You have the power to change business models that profit from disinformation and hate.”
He warned that “opaque algorithms push people into information bubbles and reinforce prejudices including racism, misogyny, and discrimination of all kinds,” with common targets being women, refugees, migrants, and minorities.
Guterres was speaking at a news conference to launch a set of U.N. global principles for information integrity, which he called a starting point to combat misinformation, disinformation, and hate speech. “Some stakeholders carry an outsized responsibility,” he added. “For them, I have a clear message: We demand action.”
He said advertisers and the public relations industry must stop monetizing harmful content, citing the climate crisis as an example. “Creatives – don’t use your talents to greenwash. PR agencies – look for clients who aren’t misleading people and destroying our planet,” Guterres said.
Guterres also urged media outlets to raise and enforce editorial standards and “find advertisers who are part of the solution, not the problem,” while calling on governments to commit to a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape.
Additionally, he advised governments to “ensure regulations uphold human rights, refrain from drastic measures such as blanket internet shutdowns, and respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression.” This call comes shortly after U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recommended adding warning labels to social media apps to remind users of the harm these platforms can cause, particularly to adolescents.