Monaco launches European programme to tackle disinformation among young people

Three Monegasque students are among around 100 young Europeans selected to take part in a Council of Europe conference on disinformation in Strasbourg month.

At a press conference organised by the Monegasque Government on Thursday, 8 October, Serge Robillard outlined a wider programme exploring the role of journalism and the challenges facing young people in the digital age. He also presented the events planned over the coming months and announced their participation.

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The initiative, Youth Facing Disinformation , forms part of the Council of Europe's Journalists Matter campaign, launched in 2023, and is being developed during Monaco's Presidency of the organisation's Committee of Ministers.

The presentation brought together representatives of the Council of Europe, including Artemiza-Tatiana Chisca, Secretary of its Steering Committee on Media and Information Society, alongside the three selected Monegasque students, media professionals and experts.

Two round-table discussions were also organised in the Principality, at Lycée Albert Ier and Médiathèque Caroline, examining the spread of disinformation through social media, digital platforms and artificial intelligence.

The discussions addressed a growing concern for journalists and the public alike: how to distinguish reliable reporting from misleading or deliberately false information.

From Monaco to Strasbourg, with further work planned

The major event will take place at the Palais de l'Europe in Strasbourg on 9 and 10 November, bringing together around 100 young people from across Europe.

Selected through an application process, participants aged 18 to 30 will join investigative journalists, academics, social media specialists and representatives of European institutions for discussions and practical workshops.

The aim is to give young people a direct role in examining how disinformation spreads and developing ways to respond to it, rather than leaving the debate solely to institutions and media professionals.

A video series launched alongside the programme will also follow the participation of young Europeans in Strasbourg.

The initiative will continue beyond November, with selected youth-led projects eligible for grants of up to €5,000. Monaco has committed €50,000 to support the wider programme.