Date: Nov 16, 2018 Source: The Daily Star Promoting freedom of expression and opinion Saad Hariri & Emmanuel Macron & Justin Trudeau & Carlos Alvarado & Erna Solberg & Macky Sall & Beji Caid Essebsi Today, the freedom of opinion and expression, which is one of the components of democracy, is in great danger. This fundamental right is based on the ability to access free, pluralistic and reliable information and yet the media, which performs fact-checks and makes a point of providing contrasting viewpoints, is weakened by the digital transformation.Widespread online disinformation continues to spread, seeking to influence debates, and even to interfere in elections to distort the outcome. Almost everywhere, private interests continue to control information, and in many countries there has been a tremendous upsurge in political control of the press and threats against journalists. Against this backdrop, our democracies must take urgent action. They must not resign themselves to this situation. We must act urgently to protect our access to independent, pluralistic, facts-based information, which is essential for people to freely form their opinions and play a valid role in democratic debate. This is why we commend the work of the International Information and Democracy Commission, which has presented the outcome of its work at the Paris Peace Forum on Nov. 11, 2018. This commission, which was created at the initiative of Reporters Without Borders, calls on us to view the global communication and information area as a common good of humanity, in which the freedom, pluralism and integrity of information must be promoted. It proposes that actors who are in a position to structure this global area, particularly the digital platforms, take on responsibilities regarding political and ideological neutrality, pluralism and transparency. Furthermore, it has innovatively called for recognition of individuals’ rights not just to independent and pluralistic information, but also reliable information. These are thought-provoking, innovative proposals. On this basis, we have decided to set a political process in motion. The goal is for our states, in the coming months, to create their own road maps to promote the right to freedom of opinion and expression in the technological and political context of the 21st century. The goal is also for as many states as possible to join them. Seventy years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we are reiterating through this initiative our commitment to our peoples’ most essential rights. Saad Hariri, prime minister of Lebanon. Emmanuel Macron, president of France. Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada. Carlos Alvarado, president of the Republic of Costa Rica. Erna Solberg, prime minister of Norway. Macky Sall, president of Senegal. Beji Caid Essebsi, president of Tunisia.   A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on November 15, 2018, on page 1.