By Loxion News Staff Writer
CAPE TOWN – The role of the media in safeguarding democracy and digital integrity took centre stage this week as the G20, for the first time in its history, formally referenced the M20 and its recommendations. The move follows the handover of the Johannesburg Declaration to Minister of Digital and Communication Technologies, Solly Malatsi, by the South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA).
The Johannesburg Declaration, signed by 63 global media and support organisations, outlines urgent calls to protect information integrity, journalism, and online safety in the age of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deepfakes.
Media Takes Seat at the G20 Table
The M20 Summit, held earlier this year, brought together global delegates to shape media-related recommendations for the G20. Minister Malatsi, who delivered the keynote address at the Summit, officially received the Declaration during the Cape Town leg of the G20 meetings.
For the first time in its two-decade history, G20 working groups have acknowledged the M20. The Chair’s statements from the G20 Task Force on AI, Data Governance and Innovation (AITF) and the Digital Economy Working Group (DEWG) explicitly referenced the contributions of civil society and media organisations.
The DEWG also recognised the “important role of the media” in combating online risks such as misinformation, harmful AI-generated content, and digital fraud.
Spotlight on AI, Deepfakes, and Online Safety
The G20 outcomes reflect several of the M20’s key concerns:
- Generative AI risks: Deepfakes, identity theft, and disinformation threatening vulnerable groups such as children, women, and journalists.
- Digital literacy: Building skills to help citizens recognise and respond to online manipulation.
- Intellectual property rights: Protecting local ownership and media content from being exploited by AI companies without consent or compensation.
- Algorithmic bias: Ensuring transparency, accountability, and human oversight in AI systems.
While the G20 statements acknowledged human rights, they fell short of addressing press freedom, journalist safety, and media viability – central pillars of the Johannesburg Declaration.
The Road Ahead for the M20
As the G20 continues under South Africa’s 2025 theme of “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability”, SANEF and MMA stressed that the M20 will intensify efforts to push media integrity higher on the global policy agenda.
“Professional journalism remains a cornerstone of information integrity. Without it, societies cannot trust the information they rely on,” the Johannesburg Declaration emphasises.
With momentum building, the M20 aims to ensure that the world’s top economies and multilateral bodies recognise that a free, independent, and sustainable media sector is essential for democratic resilience in the digital era.
