A/HRC/RES/55/10 Concerned by the increasing and far-reaching negative impact on the enjoyment and realization of human rights of the deliberate creation and dissemination of false or manipulated information intended to deceive and mislead audiences, either to cause harm or for personal, political or financial gain, Emphasizing that disinformation can be designed and spread so as to mislead, and to violate and abuse human rights, including privacy and the freedom of individuals to seek, receive and impart information, including in times of emergency, crisis and armed conflict, when such information is vital, Stressing that condemning and countering disinformation should not be used as a pretext to restrict the enjoyment and realization of human rights or to justify censorship, including through vague and overly broad laws criminalizing disinformation, and that all policies or legislation undertaken to counter disinformation must be in compliance with States’ obligations under international human rights law, including the requirement that any restrictions on freedom of expression comply with the principles of legality and necessity, Emphasizing that disinformation campaigns can be used to vilify individuals and groups, to exacerbate social divisions, to sow discord, to polarize societies, to spread hatred, misogyny, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to incite violence, discrimination and hostility, and expressing particular concern at instances of incitement to crimes against humanity and other violations or abuses of human rights, Emphasizing also that disinformation is a threat to democracy that can suppress political engagement, including by engendering or deepening distrust towards democratic institutions and processes, including electoral processes, particularly in this global election year, and hinder the realization of informed participation in political and public affairs, Recognizing the importance of protecting the space for scientific inquiry and evidence-based debate and decision-making for the enjoyment of the benefits of scientific progress and the need to address, in a manner that complies with international human rights law, targeted disinformation campaigns to discredit scientific research, Concerned that the rapid evolution of generative artificial intelligence technologies could increase the speed and scale of information manipulation and the dissemination of disinformation and misinformation, and that advances may further facilitate the effectiveness thereof, eroding trust within societies, with potential adverse effects on electoral processes and public trust in democratic systems, while acknowledging many opportunities that new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, might provide for effective responses to disinformation and misinformation if used in compliance with international human rights law, Recognizing with concern that online disinformation campaigns, particularly based on non-consensual intimate content, and synthetic media are increasingly being used to deter women and girls from participating in the public sphere, and that women journalists, women politicians, women and girl human rights defenders and advocates for women’s rights and gender equality are particularly targeted, Noting with concern that digital divides, including the gender digital divide, which disproportionately affect women and girls, may make those affected persons more vulnerable to disinformation than others and can amplify the negative impact of disinformation on their enjoyment and the realization of their human rights, Reaffirming the essential role that the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information play in strengthening democracy, promoting pluralism and multiculturalism, enhancing transparency and media freedom and countering disinformation, and that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression carries with it special duties and responsibilities, in accordance with article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Recognizing the importance of safeguarding free, independent, plural and diverse media, of ensuring the safety of journalists and media workers online and offline and of 2