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The high commissioner of the United Nations for human rights, Volker Türk, urges countries to do everything to ensure that free and independent news thrives.
Türk said this in a message to mark the World Press Freedom Day.
The United Nations General Assembly declared on May 3 as the World Press Freedom Day, observed to raise awareness of the importance of the freedom of the press and remind governments their duty to respect and support the right to freedom of expression.
“In the midst of spiral conflict, climatic chaos, growing divisions and rapidly evolving digital landscape, a free print is more vital than ever.
“The media help us understand the world around us and encourage critical thinking and dialogue,” said Türk.
According to him, the free and independent media are the best antidote to disinformation, but freedom of the press is threatened in every region of the world.
“The states molestible, hold, torture and even kill media workers simply for having done their work while in some conflict areas, the parts in the war limit or deny access to journalists.”
He observed that since January 2025, no less than 20 people who worked in the media were killed and the impunity for crimes against journalists were widespread, with over 80 % of the killings that were not unpunished.
Türk said that observance of this year on press freedom is remembering that the repression of the media is increasing while artificial intelligence (AI) is completely revising the way in which information is produced, distributed and consumed.
“Although the IA can be a useful tool for journalists, it also involves significant risks for freedom of the press.
“Algorithms based on artificial intelligence often impose what we see, by modeling our opinions and perceptions of reality. Politicians use the IA to arm the disinformation and make their agendas advance.
“States also use artificial intelligence tools to monitor journalists and their online sources, violating their right to privacy. This has a chilling effect on media workers from all over the world. And journalists are targeted disproportionately,” he said.
In addition, “a small group of companies and individuals has an almost total control over the AI technology and influence on the panorama of global media”.
The United Nations Secretary General António Guterres also highlighted the opportunities and risks placed by the AI in his message on press freedom.
“Distorted algorithms, lies and hatred speeches are anti -human mines on the superaway.
He indicated the Global Digital Compact adopted last year by the United Nations Member States, which includes “concrete steps to strengthen international cooperation to promote the integrity of information, tolerance and respect in the digital space”.
Türk said that World Press Freedom Day is an opportunity for everyone to urgently commit to changing the course now, starting from the States.
“They must guarantee that journalists are safe from attacks, hatred and surveillance campaigns, as well as physical and legal harassment.
“It is essential to have greater transparency in the way the data is used, the way in which the content is cared for and the way the algorithms are designed.
“The laws on the concentration of the media – i.e. the legislation on the property of the maximums for the maximum, must also be updated to reflect the power of the AI and the technological platforms and promote a diversified media landscape that guarantees space for independent journalism”.
In the meantime, technological companies have a crucial role.
In this regard, Turk has announced that his office and the Unnesco United Nations educational and cultural agency offered a guide to help technological companies to evaluate the risks that their tools to lay journalists and civil society.
“A free, independent and diversified media can help heal divisions in our societies. We must do everything in our power to protect it and allow them to thrive,” he said.
