The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association (UNLA) initiated the creation of a modern architecture of information sovereignty, preparing the first comprehensive bill on liability for disinformation.
This was reported on Facebook by the head of the Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association, lawyer Oleksiy Shevchuk.
The lawyer said that the work on the document was carried out by a group of experts under the leadership of lobbyists Iryna Shapovalova and Mykhailo Yakovchuk in the pro bono format (from the Latin pro bono publico – “for the public good”), this is the voluntary provision of professional services (most often legal) free of charge.
The project became a response to the systemic threats of the Russian Federation’s hybrid aggression and has already been submitted for parliamentary consideration to the Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Law Enforcement, Hryhoriy Mamka.
A wide range of public policy specialists, lawyers, information security experts and digital platforms were involved in the development of the legislative initiative. The key task of the working group was to adapt the document to the standards of the European Union, the Council of Europe and NATO approaches to countering hostile information operations. The draft law establishes for the first time at the legal level the definition of disinformation as a threat to national security, which will allow the state to respond more effectively to destructive interference in the information space.
The proposed mechanism provides for the implementation of a differentiated system of liability, which will take into account the scale of the consequences and the presence of intent in the actions of violators. An important component of the document is the creation of clear procedural guarantees that should prevent political pressure or abuse during the application of the law. In addition, the project lays the foundation for institutional coordination of state bodies responsible for the security of the national media field.
The Ukrainian National Lobbyists Association plans to provide further expert and public-political support for the initiative at all stages of its passage through the Verkhovna Rada. This case demonstrates the ability of the professional lobbying community of Ukraine to work on strategically important decisions for the state on a volunteer basis. The implementation of the law should become an effective tool for protecting citizens from manipulation and strengthening the country’s resilience in the context of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
