Riga Graduate School of Law has been selected as part of an international consortium assembled by RGSL Associate Professor Dr Mark Leiser for a Council of Europe framework contract on tackling disinformation and strengthening democratic resilience.
The framework, established by the Council of Europe’s Division for Cooperation on Freedom of Expression, will support cooperation projects in member and non-member states until the end of 2030. Its activities will help national authorities and other stakeholders improve legislation, policy and practice while safeguarding freedom of expression, media freedom and democratic participation.
The consortium has been selected across all three areas covered by the framework: legal and policy advice, capacity building, and research.
Potential assignments include analysing national legal and institutional frameworks, developing policy recommendations, conducting comparative and empirical research, preparing educational and media literacy resources, and contributing to training, workshops and international dialogue. The work may involve public authorities, educators, journalists, cultural organisations, civil society groups, youth workers and young people.
The Council of Europe’s approach recognises that disinformation cannot be addressed solely by regulating individual pieces of content. Effective responses must also consider how contemporary media and information systems shape attention, trust and participation, as well as how people encounter, assess and share information.
RGSL contributes expertise in European law, human rights, digital regulation, education and international legal cooperation. The framework also connects with Dr Leiser’s research on artificial intelligence, platform governance, deceptive design and the regulation of digital information environments.
Dr Leiser, Associate Professor of AI, Digital Regulation and Disruptive Technology at RGSL, said:
“Disinformation presents a challenge not only because of what people say, but because digital systems increasingly determine what people see, how information reaches them and which narratives receive prominence. Durable responses must strengthen the wider information environment while protecting freedom of expression, media freedom and democratic participation. This framework gives RGSL an excellent opportunity to combine legal research, practical policy advice and education.”
RGSL’s participation strengthens the School’s engagement with the Council of Europe and creates a new avenue through which its academic expertise can contribute to research, policy development and institutional capacity building across Europe and beyond.
Selection for the framework makes the consortium eligible to receive individual assignments from the Council of Europe as relevant projects and activities develop. It does not guarantee any particular assignment or level of funding.