were reported, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET, the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research) released a report according to which it had already refuted more than one-hundred lies related to the coronavirus (La Arena 2020). These false assertions included claims about the origin of the virus, about how the virus spreads, and about miraculous cures. 5.2 ACTORS AND STRATEGIES TO COMBAT DISINFORMATION CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS Argentina has a number of civil society organizations that work in the area of freedom of expression, civil rights, and digital rights. Some of these have also begun to address the issue of disinformation. CELE One example is the aforementioned CELE, which, in the framework of its Latin American legal observatory, conducts monitoring activities in Argentina. The center also conducts studies on the subject, not only to map legislation but also with the aim of influencing regulatory debates. One of these initiatives is the production of documents discussing possible strategies to counter disinformation, such as a report released in 2017 (Cortés and Isaza 2017). According to Morena Schatzky (interview, August 2021) of CELE, the general approach advocated by the organization is to expand freedom of expression and critical awareness with regards to information: “Disinformation is combated through more and better information, so that more and better information can circulate through the distinct mediums, instead of having platforms remove more content. On the other hand, media literacy helps a person think twice before publishing and sharing a news item.” CELE develops training activities for civil society leaders on the topic of freedom of expression and the internet: We have a workshop aimed at human rights and civil society activists who are not so knowledgeable about the topic of digital rights. We work on the issues, to give them an overview. Many of the civil society entities ask for content removal and anonymity bans when they are affected by online speech. And we discuss how this can impact the work of activists. (interview, Schatzky, August 2021) I N FO R M ATI O N D I SO R D ER IN THE GLOBA L SOUTH DESCONFIO Desconfio19 focuses on research and training, but with an emphasis on the issue of disinformation. One of its published studies explores the accessing and sharing of information by the elderly on WhatsApp (Clarín 2020). The team also develops technologies to combat disinformation, such as systems based on machine learning. In 2020, a thirty-hour course titled “Estrategias periodísticas contra la desinformación” (Journalistic strategies to counter disinformation) was made available in partnership with the SIP Institute (Interamerican Press Association).20 The organization has entered into partnerships with associations from specific segments, such as librarians and environmental entities: “We work with alliances. For example, we do transversal work. We are in contact with a network of librarians in the province of Buenos Aires to discuss how to incorporate skills and knowledge to help combat misinformation” (interview, Arréguez, August 2021). ADC The Asociación por Los Derechos Civiles (ADC, Association for Civil Rights) runs numerous initiatives related to digital rights. Its plan for 2020– 2024 focuses on digital transformation in the fields of rights and guarantees, the democratic system, and inclusion. The association also produces research and policy documents on fake news. In 2021, it released a report titled “La protección del espacio cívico en línea” (The protection of the civil space online), which addresses various aspects of the problem, lists the responses of various actors, and makes recommendations for the protection of freedom of expression online (Ferreyra 2021). The organization contributes to international debates on the problem, such as the consultations carried out in 2021 by the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan, on the subject. The ADC also forms part of AlSur, a network that was discussed earlier in this report as an actor working with disinformation at the regional level. FATPREN In 2019, the Federación Argentina de Trabajadores de Prensa (FATPREN, Argentinian Federation of Press Workers) proposed an initiative which it called “Pacto Ético Contra la Desinformación” (Ethical pact against disinformation). The pact calls press workers to commit to “an agreement not to disseminate false or malicious news and to conduct responsible campaigns, based on the proposals that Latin America and the Caribbean – 93