International human rights law in the era of digital disinformation and propaganda: case studies from Myanmar and Ukraine

Abstract

Today, more than ever, the Internet and social media have become our primary sources of informa­tion, offering us a window to the world. However, this freedom to access and disseminate information has neg­ative consequences, as it allows for a rapid spread of disinformation, propaganda, and hate speech. From the perspective of international human rights law, questions arise regarding the obligations and responsibilities of states. In this discussion, the authors argue that one of the primary tasks of states is to take necessary and ap­propriate measures to simultaneously protect the freedom of expression and prevent the spread of propagan­da and disinformation. Balancing these conflicting interests is a complex challenge. To better understand them, the authors analyse selected examples from international and domestic jurisprudence and practice, such as the Rohingya genocide in Myanmar and the war in Ukraine. These cases serve to illustrate how state-sponsored propaganda and disinformation can lead to violence and result in grave human rights violations.

Keywords

• freedom of expression
• disinformation
• propaganda
• Myanmar
• Ukraine
• human rights