On 8 April 2026, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted Recommendation CM/Rec (2026)4 on online safety and the empowerment of users and content creators.
It is recognized that the Internet has become the main space for exercising freedom of expression, as it has expanded individuals’ ability to receive and impart information. It is emphasized that the Internet is no exception, so fundamental rights must be protected both online and offline.
The Recommendation pursues two distinct but related objectives: protecting the online safety of users and ensuring their online empowerment. In this regard, Member States must strike a balance between their positive obligation to protect the online safety of users and their negative obligation not to interfere excessively with freedom of expression. The aim is to mitigate systemic risks without resorting to global bans.
It is emphasized that the right to freedom of expression protects not only information and ideas that are well received or regarded as harmless or neutral but also those that may offend, shock, or disturb the state or any sector of the population; however, they are essential to public debate.
The text analyzes the risks posed by the online environment, which may affect, among other things, safety, people’s well-being, freedom of expression, privacy, and personal data. It highlights that there are greater risks for women, minors, and persons in vulnerable situations or at risk of discrimination. Therefore, any measure to improve online safety must be proportionate to the risk of harm and respect human rights.
With regard to content creators, it establishes that they have a responsibility to contribute to a healthy, informed, and democratic discourse that respects the rights of others. It states that those who reach a significant audience or claim to have professional expertise must act in good faith and uphold the principles of accuracy, impartiality, and integrity, ensuring transparency regarding the funding, advertising, and ownership of the content.
On the other hand, it is emphasized that the design of platforms may make certain content more visible, which may generate negative effects, including putting users’ safety at risk or harming democracy. Therefore, it is stated that platforms, especially those with significant influence, have a responsibility to incorporate measures to ensure the safety and protection of users in the operation of their services, including artificial intelligence systems and algorithms.
In this context, it is stated that platforms must adopt measures to strengthen the empowerment and autonomy of users in the online environment by design. The aim is for the design of platforms to improve users’ ability to make informed decisions about the content with which they interact. This could include facilitating the labeling of lawful content by experts, fact-checkers, or communities.
The Recommendation also promotes measures for algorithmic transparency; platforms should clearly explain how they design their algorithmic systems for the organization and curation of content so that users can understand which information is prioritized or deprioritized.
In this regard, the management of online risks should not be based solely on the removal of content but also on providing users with greater control over their digital experience, such as effective tools enabling them to personalize their experience, hide content, or block users. Ultimately, the aim is to transfer power to users, not responsibility.
June, 2026
