Madrid, October 14, 2024.- The Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Service, Óscar López, has highlighted the role of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (AI) and the Action Plan for Democracy to combat the consequences of disinformation, which "in this digital revolution is taking advantage to multiply its speed and scope." In his speech at the II Day Against Disinformation, organized by the Open Club of Editors (CLABE), he stressed that the Government has the “responsibility of generating the conditions of democratic guarantee so that article 20 of the Spanish Constitution can be complied with, which guarantees the right to truthful information”.

Óscar López explained that the National AI Strategy has as its mission to promote the use of this technology, but also to prevent the risks involved “when it falls into the wrong hands”, ranging from adulteration of images to infringements in terms of intellectual property or dissemination of ‘fake news’. As for the Action Plan for Democracy, López recalled that among its objectives is “the creation of a media registry and a one-stop-shop to report on their property and the advertising investment received”, with the purpose of allowing “citizens to know who owns the media and what conflict of interests may occur behind their work.” “Transparency effectively discourages the risks of editorial interference,” he said.

López recalled that the Plan also includes a Professional Secrecy Law for Journalists “as a legal guarantee for the protection of their sources” and funding for media amounting to 100 million euros “to improve their productivity and cybersecurity. A funding that gives robustness, modernization and added value to professional and independent journalism. So that the media can compete with informal channels that share all kinds of content without criteria to millions and millions of users.” In addition, the Plan provides for the creation of a new commission on disinformation in the Congress of Deputies and the reform of the electoral law so that the holding of electoral debates is mandatory, in order – explained the minister – that political parties “also shoulder their shoulders and commit themselves to transparency and democratic plurality”.