RCC Member States Approve Declaration on Countering Misinformation Based on GFCN Code

On June 5, the Mariinsky Palace in St. Petersburg hosted the joint 65th/32nd meeting of the Council of Heads of Communications Administrations of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications (RCC) and the Coordination Council of the CIS Member States on Informatization attached to the RCC. The event was attended by the heads of relevant ministries and agencies from Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, alongside representatives of international organizations and observer states.

The Declaration, endorsed by the delegates, aims to ensure transparency within the information environment and to foster a joint response to transnational disinformation campaigns.

The newly adopted interstate document was built upon the principles of the Global Fact-Checking Network (GFCN) Code of Responsible Fact-Checking. Adopting the Code as a foundation is designed to guarantee an objective and impartial approach to information verification across member states. The document stipulates that the fight against misinformation must remain within strict legal boundaries, fully respecting human rights to freedom of thought, expression, and access to information sources.

The approved Declaration highlights the growing volume of disinformation and the increasing sophistication of AI-driven methods used to generate it. To address these challenges, the participating states plan to:

• Formulate coordinated approaches to information verification;
• Foster conditions for sharing expertise and enhancing the cybersecurity of RCC member states;
• Promote the development of educational programs aimed at boosting citizens’ media literacy;
• Consider cultural and traditional diversity when protecting the information space.

The meeting also featured an exhibition area where the GFCN presented an interactive demonstration of face-swap technology, showcasing modern techniques used to generate synthetic content.

“The spread of misinformation has become a cross-border issue,” noted the editorial board of the GFCN. “Integrating the principles of the Global Fact-Checking Network Code into the RCC Declaration demonstrates that effectively combating disinformation requires adherence to the common principles and norms established by our code’s standards.”

The approval of this Declaration marks another significant step forward for the region’s nations in forging common approaches to protecting the digital environment, anchored in professional fact-checking standards.

The official minutes of the meeting and the full text of the Declaration will be published on the RCC website.