The city of Lungi in Sierra Leone hosted the ICIC-IDUAI 2026 conference from September 28 to 30, 2026. The event was held under the theme "Preserving Information Integrity in the Digital Age: The Role of Access to Information in Combating Information Disorder." This international conference brought together institutions and bodies concerned with the right to access information. Participants included the International Conference of Information Commissioners (ICIC), UNESCO, and the African Network of Information Commissioners (ANIC).
The conference was organized on the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI 2026), which falls on September 28 every year. The event was held in partnership with the government of Sierra Leone and UNESCO. Morocco was represented at the conference by a delegation led by Abdel Rahim Fikahi, a member of the Moroccan Commission for Access to Information (CDAI).
The Moroccan delegation's contribution focused on the growing concern of disinformation and fake news, which has become a major challenge for societies. The delegation emphasized that the digital space, which transcends geographical and national borders, makes it essential to adopt a multi-level approach to counter disinformation. This approach should involve providing reliable and verified public information, promoting proactive disclosure of data, and strengthening rapid institutional communication.
The Moroccan approach stresses the importance of media education and critical thinking. It aims to empower individuals, especially children and young people, with the tools to verify the sources of information before adopting or sharing them. The approach also involves engaging civil society in disseminating reliable data and raising awareness about the risks of fake news.
The conference discussed the latest technological developments supporting good record-keeping practices and the role of proactive disclosure in providing more reliable access to information. Participants also explored the theme of information and media literacy as an essential factor in enabling access to reliable information.
The event highlighted the importance of reliable data in achieving sustainable development goals and promoting adaptive capacity to climate change and humanitarian response. The Moroccan delegation's presentation was well-received by participants, who acknowledged the need for international cooperation to address the challenges of disinformation and information disorder.
The ICIC-IDUAI 2026 conference provided a platform for participants to share experiences and best practices in promoting access to information and combating disinformation. The event concluded with a call for greater collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders to address the growing challenges of information disorder in the digital age.
Key points
- Morocco proposes a multi-level approach to counter disinformation and information disorder.
- The approach involves providing reliable and verified public information, promoting proactive disclosure of data, and strengthening rapid institutional communication.
- Media education and critical thinking are essential in empowering individuals to verify information sources and combat fake news.
