UNITED NATIONS
Amid multiplying disinformation, rising tensions and armed conflicts, Pakistan has urged the United Nations to take steps aimed at promoting an information environment that is truthful, inclusive, and respectful of human dignity. “Timely, accurate, and impartial communication is most essential particularly at a time marked by geopolitical tensions, polarization, widening and inequalities,” Ambassador Usman Jadoon, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the world body’s Committee on Information, a General Assembly’s subsidiary body established to oversee the work of the Department of Global Communications (DGC).
With obviously Palestine and Kashmir in mind, he voiced particular concern over the use of disinformation in situations of foreign occupation and conflict.
“False narratives are deployed to obscure human rights violations, demonize lawful struggles for self-determination, and silence affected populations,” the Pakistani envoy said, referring to the profoundly transforming global information landscape.
“While technological advances have democratized access to information, they have also enabled the rapid spread of disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech at an unprecedented scale,” Ambassador Jadoon said, adding, “These challenges strike at the core of public trust, social cohesion, and the credibility of multilateral institutions, including the UN.” Information, he emphasized, must serve as a bridge for dialogue and cooperation, not as a tool for manipulation, division, or repression.
“We remain deeply concerned at the misuse of digital platforms to amplify falsehoods, deepen polarization, and target vulnerable communities,”the Pakistani envoy said. “The persistence of hate speech, racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia in digital spaces is particularly alarming, often translating into real-world harm.”
In this regard, Ambassador Jadoon pointed out that the rise of artificial intelligence and generative technologies has added a new layer of complexity. “While these technologies hold immense potential for advancing communication and development, their misuse poses serious risks to information integrity.” “Our collective response must be comprehensive and balanced”.
He commended the Department of Global Communications (DGC) for its continued efforts to adapt to a rapidly evolving information ecosystem, noting emerging challenges, particularly in light of the Secretary-General’s Global Principles for Information Integrity. “These efforts are timely and necessary to ensure that the UN remains an authoritative, trusted, and accessible source of information.” — DNA
