Ukraine has become one of seven countries directly involved in developing updated recommendations from the Council of Europe on online safety for digital platforms. Once approved, these standards will serve as a benchmark for 46 European countries, shaping new approaches to regulating platform operations and protecting users in the online space.
This is reported by Finway
“One of the key changes will be the requirement for platforms to explain the principles behind content formation. Users will be able to see why certain posts receive more visibility while others are limited in reach. This is expected to reduce the opacity of algorithmic decisions that affect information feeds.”
New Tools for Content Control and Platform Decisions
Among the main innovations is the expansion of content personalization capabilities. Users will receive additional tools to customize recommendations and will partially be able to opt out of automated information selection. The document also guarantees the right to a clear explanation of the reasons for blocking and introduces mechanisms for appealing decisions made by digital platforms.
Transparency in Advertising and Human Rights Protection
The recommendations strengthen the requirements for transparency in online advertising – it is stipulated that users will see who is targeting them and the criteria used for selection. Platforms must regularly assess potential risks to human rights, particularly concerning vulnerable groups. Additionally, independent researchers will gain broader access to data for analyzing the impact of algorithms on social processes.
Importantly, the new European standards take into account Ukraine’s experience in countering disinformation during wartime. This underscores Ukraine’s active role in shaping modern rules for Europe’s digital environment and enhances the practical component of the developed recommendations.
Previously, the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine presented the concept of an updated cloud strategy to ensure the uninterrupted operation of state systems even during attacks or technical failures.