Tech policy & regulation
Developing cross-jurisdictional frameworks to coordinate enforcement against coordinated disinformation networks and bad actors.
Global digital governance hinges on interoperable, enforceable cooperation across borders, ensuring rapid responses, shared evidence standards, and resilient mechanisms that deter, disrupt, and deter manipulation without stifling legitimate discourse.
July 17, 2025 - 3 min Read
In an era where misinformation circulates with machine-like precision, no single country can alone curb the spread of coordinated disinformation networks. Collaboration across jurisdictions is essential to map the anatomy of these campaigns, identify commononym dilemmas, and synchronize investigative timelines. Such coordination should begin with shared definitions of disinformation, including what constitutes coordinated activity, who qualifies as a bad actor, and which behaviors trigger enforcement actions. Practical steps include establishing joint task forces, harmonizing data protection and privacy safeguards, and creating interoperable case management systems that allow investigators to securely exchange evidence. These measures lay a foundation for faster, more effective interventions without compromising civil liberties.
Beyond law enforcement, cross-border cooperation must engage regulators, platform operators, and civil society researchers. A multi-stakeholder approach promotes transparency, accountability, and innovation in detection technologies. Tooling interoperability—such as standardized metadata schemas, shared threat intel formats, and cross-jurisdictional watchlists—reduces friction and accelerates action when a network shifts its structure or migrates to new platforms. Equally important is establishing trusted communication channels that preserve confidentiality while enabling rapid escalation of risks. Public briefings and redacted summaries help maintain legitimacy, empower journalists, and reassure users that countermeasures are proportionate, targeted, and guided by established legal thresholds.
Shared standards enable faster, safer enforcement across borders.
The core challenge is translating national mandates into interoperable standards that survive political change. When regulators align on risk assessment criteria, enforcement actions gain predictability and deterrence strengthens. This requires codifying procedural safeguards to prevent overreach while preserving the ability to act decisively against networks that deceive millions. Shared criteria for harm, veracity, and intent help adjudicators evaluate cases consistently, even when sources originate from different legal traditions. Lawful interception, evidence handling, and chain-of-custody protocols must be harmonized so that findings endure scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions. Only with such coherence can enforcement scale without becoming arbitrary.
Technical architectures play a pivotal role as well. A federated network of regulatory bodies can coordinate responses while keeping jurisdictional autonomy intact. Centralized dashboards that track trends, flagged accounts, and cross-platform takedowns enable authorities to prioritize actions based on impact. At the same time, privacy-preserving analytics ensure that user data is protected and that presumptions of guilt are avoided. Trials and sanctions should stay proportionate, using elevation to sanctions only after careful evaluation of evidence and potential collateral consequences for legitimate speech. This balance upholds democratic values while curbing manipulation.
Practical, privacy-respecting data sharing underpins trust and efficacy.
To operationalize a cross-jurisdictional framework, several governance layers must be clearly defined. A treaty-like agreement can articulate common objectives, dispute-resolution processes, and escalation paths when disagreements arise about evidence or jurisdiction. An independent oversight body can monitor adherence to these standards, publish periodic performance reviews, and recommend improvements. Financial and technical assistance should be extended to lower-capacity regions, ensuring that smaller nations can participate fully without becoming weak links. By distributing responsibilities across agencies, platforms, and civil-society groups, the system gains resilience and reduces the risk of capture by special interests. This inclusive approach also builds public trust.
Real-world effectiveness hinges on robust, transparent data-sharing practices. Protocols for data minimization, purpose limitation, and retention timelines must be explicit and auditable. When data crosses borders, applicable privacy agreements and jurisdiction-specific safeguards should be respected, with legal mechanisms to resolve conflicts promptly. Shared repositories of threat indicators, case summaries, and enforcement outcomes enable investigators to recognize patterns more efficiently and avoid duplicative efforts. Equally valuable is a commitment to regular reviews of the framework’s performance, including feedback loops from affected communities and independent researchers who can flag biases or blind spots in the system.
Education, platform action, and judicial clarity reinforce each other.
As campaigns evolve, so too must the tactics used to counter them. Coalition-based responses should combine public communications, targeted platform actions, and legal measures tailored to the nature of the threat. Public awareness campaigns can debunk false narratives while avoiding retaliation or censorship that might backfire. Platform actions—like deprioritizing deceptive content or removing harmful actors—must be justified with concrete evidence and proportionate penalties. Legal responses should cover a spectrum from warnings to sanctions, calibrated to the severity and scope of harm. A layered approach ensures that no single tactic becomes overused or ineffective, preserving legitimate discourse while diminishing influence operations.
Capacity-building remains central to success. Training programs for investigators, platform moderators, and judges help ensure consistent interpretation of rules and better risk assessment. Exchange fellowships and secondments among institutions build trust and reduce friction when coordinating investigations. Technical upskilling in forensics, network analysis, and digital provenance enables teams to trace disinformation back to its sources with greater confidence. Importantly, communities of practice should include journalists and fact-checkers who monitor evolving deception strategies and provide timely, context-rich reporting that supports enforcement without amplifying the manipulation themselves.
Transparent governance and collaboration are essential for legitimacy.
The architecture of enforcement must account for diverse legal environments. Some jurisdictions require high thresholds for evidence, while others emphasize rapid preliminary measures. A harmonized framework can accommodate these differences by designating provisional actions with sunset clauses and offering clear due-process protections. International standards can allow temporary, narrowly tailored restrictions when there is a verifiable risk of broad harm, provided courts or independent monitors review decisions promptly. Such safeguards ensure that emergency responses do not become permanent constraints on speech. By outlining timelines, evidentiary requirements, and review mechanisms, the framework becomes predictable for both citizens and tech companies.
Equally critical is fostering trust between public authorities and online platforms. Clear, consistent guidelines reduce ambiguous expectations and help platforms align their policies with legal obligations. Platforms should engage with external researchers and civil-society groups to validate detection methods and mitigate bias. When takedowns or labeling are implemented, a transparent rationale should be communicated to users, along with an explanation of the impact on reach and visibility. This openness discourages indiscriminate censorship and encourages a collaborative spirit, where industry and state actors share responsibility for reducing harm without suppressing legitimate expression.
The cost of fragmentation is high, both economically and socially. Fragmented enforcement creates loopholes that bad actors can exploit, drains public resources, and erodes public confidence in digital ecosystems. A unified framework reduces duplication, negotiates priorities, and concentrates enforcement where it matters most. By aligning incentives—such as shared success metrics, joint funding opportunities, and cross-border investigations—the system becomes more efficient and less prone to political maneuvering. Importantly, a shared culture of accountability keeps actors honest, ensuring that cooperation translates into real-world results rather than isolated wins on paper. Public interest remains the ultimate compass guiding these efforts.
In the long run, sustainable enforcement depends on continual learning and adaptation. The landscape of disinformation is dynamic, with new actors, platforms, and formats continually emerging. Regular lessons-learned workshops, scenario planning, and risk assessments help authorities stay ahead of evolving tactics. Legal frameworks should be revisited periodically to reflect technological advances, user expectations, and evolving human rights norms. The success of cross-jurisdictional coordination rests on political will, technical interoperability, and robust civil-society engagement. When these elements align, coordinated networks can be meaningfully disrupted, while defenders preserve open, informed public conversation across borders.
