How to counter digital threats: recommendations for Ukraine and Moldova from HLEG experts

“Online platforms are increasingly being used for manipulation, disinformation, and undermining trust in institutions. The recent parliamentary elections in Moldova have witnessed active foreign interference through the online space. Ukraine faces even greater threats in view of the war, as russia uses information as a weapon,” the National Council for Television and Radio Broadcasting emphasized, noting that the High-Level Expert Group on Building Resilience in Eastern Europe (#HLEG), established by the international organization IMS (International Media Support), has prepared recommendations for Moldovan and Ukrainian legislators and regulators on reducing systemic risks, especially during election periods.

National Council member Oleksandr Burmahin participated in the development of the recommendations.

The document was developed for Ukraine and Moldova as countries that are candidates for membership in the European Union. The purpose of the document is to provide answers to the current challenges associated with the activities of large platforms.

“They are gaining more and more influence and are themselves beginning to influence content regulation. Ukraine is facing even more threats due to the war, because russia is using information as a weapon,” the report says.

“An international group of experts has gathered to assess the situation in the context of all these challenges and threats to the activities of platforms and, perhaps, to try to direct the existing discussions into a practical plane,” Oleksandr Burmahin emphasized and noting that DSA is a law that contains a lot of different requirements for platforms and standards. Ukraine, in principle, can also start implementing them at its legislative level, despite the fact that it is not an EU country.

Although Ukraine does not yet have access to the mechanisms for implementing DSA, it can already implement the provisions stipulated by the act at its level in national legislation.

“However, there is no active movement in this direction in Ukraine yet. Therefore, it is hoped that the recommendations developed will push for decision-making at the country level,” says Oleksandr Burmahin.

The main recommendations contained in the document are:

Create independent platform regulators, such as Digital Services Coordinators under the DSA, which would be adapted to the institutional context and democratic needs of each country.

Promote bilateral cooperation between EU and candidate country regulators to strengthen enforcement under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and facilitate knowledge exchange.

Encourage Moldovan and Ukrainian regulators to be granted observer status in the European Board for Digital Services (EBDS) to support cross-border cooperation and joint learning.

“The work of the HLEG will continue. It will move to a practical level, focused on supporting candidate countries in building sustainable digital ecosystems operating within the legal framework. IMS intends to further facilitate cooperation between many stakeholders, regulators in Moldova and Ukraine, and their EU counterparts,” the National Council notes.

NUJU Information Service