Monaco has taken a leading role in combating fake news and protecting democratic integrity by launching the national programme ‘Youth Facing Disinformation’ (Les jeunes face à la désinformation). Presented on Thursday 8th October at the Interministerial Delegation for Digital Transition, this initiative forms a core part of Monaco’s presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The initiative is deeply anchored in the Council of Europe’s broader campaign, ‘Journalists Matter’, which runs from 2023 to 2027 to protect freedom of expression and the safety of journalists facing violence or harassment.

“Under the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, and amidst an increasingly uncertain global context where journalists are on the front line, the Princely Government has initiated targeted actions for youth,” said Léa Calori, an official administrator at Monaco’s Direction de la Communication, during the press conference.

Claire Fissore of the Interministerial Delegation for Digital Transition highlighted that the programme addresses modern digital challenges, including the rise of artificial intelligence, platform algorithms, and the protection of minors online.

“The delegation has prioritised fostering a sovereign, responsible, and trustworthy AI ecosystem,” Fissore said.

Empowering youth against disinformation

Representing the Council of Europe, Artemizia-Tatiana Chisca, Head of the Freedom of Expression and CDMSI Division, praised Monaco’s active commitment, saying: “The country is successfully mobilising member states to view information integrity and media education as holistic societal necessities.”

She went on to explain that at its core, the campaign aims to ensure journalists can work freely and securely, shielded from online and offline pressures ranging from routine harassment to extreme intimidation.

“This mission is more urgent than ever as algorithms, social networks, and artificial intelligence completely transform how information is accessed, produced, and shared. In this rapidly shifting environment, youth are uniquely affected – acting not only as everyday consumers of news, but as active creators and multipliers of content who must navigate the rising tide of disinformation,” Chisca concluded.

Meanwhile, Florian Botto, a Monegasque diplomat and official serving within Monaco’s Department of External Relations and Cooperation, talked about the underlying philosophy of the Monegasque mandate: the protection of all through effective organisation to respond to contemporary challenges.

“Empowering younger generations does not mean deciding for them, but rather equipping them with critical thinking skills so they can become autonomous, responsible citizens”, he concluded.

A creative media rollout: Engaging the public through video 

To build momentum ahead of the Strasbourg conference, the ‘Youth Facing Disinformation’ campaign features a unique four-part fictional video series broadcast locally on Monaco Info. Developed in close collaboration with actor and co-creator Mickaël Lorenzier, who heavily invested in the writing, concept development, and special effects, the series leans on the conventions of fiction and a touch of the absurd to tackle media literacy with humor (in French).

The episodes are being released weekly on Thursdays at 7pm leading up to the November summit, serving as engaging awareness-raising capsules. Following the conference, the complete series will air as a standalone short film across Monaco Info platforms (including its website and YouTube channel for audiences outside the Principality), offering viewers a creative lens on the fight against disinformation.

Preparing for Strasbourg: Monaco’s youth delegation

A major milestone of the national campaign is the upcoming ‘Youth Facing Disinformation’ conference in Strasbourg on 9th and 10th November. Notably, the 10th of November also marks the official handover day, when Montenegro takes over the presidency of the Council of Europe as Monaco’s mandate concludes.

Serge Robillard, an official within Monaco’s administration who serves as the National Focal Point for the Council of Europe’s ‘Journalists Matter’ campaign under the Digital Department— detailed the robust selection process, which featured an open European call for candidatures (selecting 50 youths, including three from Monaco) and a call for projects addressing disinformation.

The three selected Monegasque students, alongside peers from across Europe, will travel to Strasbourg to take on active roles as reporters and workshop participants, translating policy ideas into concrete actions.

Looking ahead, community engagement continues well beyond the autumn: December 2026 will feature a conference in Monaco titled ‘Les jeunes face à la désinformation à Monaco : perspectives’, presenting a synthesis of the Strasbourg findings. This will be followed in March 2027 by youth workshops and social media initiatives during the Press Week, leading up to the official close of the ‘Journalists Matter’ campaign under the Dutch presidency in November 2027, where results from the four selected projects will be showcased.

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Press conference on the national programme ‘Youth Facing Disinformation’. Photo credit: Virginia D’Umas