Recommendation J.D. Mulder

 🌐 International Recommendation on Digital Integrity and Platform Responsibility in Online Relationships

Preamble

Recognizing that human connection increasingly takes place across digital borders;

Acknowledging that online relationship fraud and identity-based deception cause significant emotional, financial and social harm;

Recalling the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime (2001) and the EU Digital Services Act (2022) as key frameworks for digital security and platform accountability;

Emphasizing that privacy is a right, but that intentional deception undermines personal autonomy, dignity and trust;

The undersigned recommend the following principles and measures to promote digital integrity and accountability in online interpersonal relations.

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Article 1 — Purpose

This Recommendation aims to strengthen international cooperation and platform responsibility in preventing, detecting and addressing intentional digital misrepresentation within online relationship and dating environments.

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Article 2 — Definition

1. Digital relationship deception means the deliberate and sustained use of false identity, personal data, or relational status with the purpose of gaining trust, affection, influence or advantage.

2. This excludes the use of pseudonyms or privacy measures adopted solely for personal safety or anonymity without intent to mislead.

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Article 3 — Principles of Digital Integrity

1. Right to Privacy — Every individual retains the right to control how and when personal data is shared online.

2. Duty of Honesty — Participants in online relationships have a moral and legal duty not to intentionally misrepresent essential aspects of their identity.

3. Accountability by Design — Platforms shall embed preventive systems that deter, detect and respond to identity-based deception.

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Article 4 — Platform Responsibility and Verification

1. Platforms facilitating interpersonal or romantic interaction shall ensure verified registration of users through secure digital identity mechanisms, without publicly revealing private data.

2. Verified data shall be held confidentially but must be available to competent authorities or courts in cases of reported harm or fraud.

3. Platforms shall maintain clear internal protocols for evidence preservation, reporting and user redress.

4. Failure to implement adequate verification and preventive measures shall constitute a breach of the duty of care under the Digital Services Act or equivalent national law.

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Article 5 — Jurisdiction and Cooperation

1. States should apply an effects-based jurisdiction, allowing proceedings in the country where the victim suffered the harm.

2. States shall ensure mutual legal assistance for cross-border cases involving digital relationship fraud.

3. Europol, Eurojust and similar agencies are encouraged to establish dedicated units or taskforces for identity-based online fraud and interpersonal deception.

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Article 6 — Remedies and Victim Protection

1. Victims shall have access to civil and administrative remedies in their own jurisdiction, including compensation and asset recovery.

2. Platforms must cooperate in freezing assets or accounts linked to proven identity-based deception.

3. States should simplify cross-border claims and adopt expedited digital complaint procedures.

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Article 7 — Prevention, Education and Public Awareness

1. Governments and platforms shall jointly promote awareness campaigns on digital integrity and safe online interaction.

2. Users should be informed of verification procedures, reporting tools, and evidence preservation methods.

3. Educational materials should emphasize both privacy protection and honesty in digital relations.

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Article 8 — Implementation and Follow-Up

1. The Council of Europe, European Union and United Nations are invited to explore the integration of these principles into existing frameworks, such as an Additional Protocol to the Budapest Convention or a Digital Integrity Charter under the DSA.

2. Platforms and civil society organizations are encouraged to adopt voluntary codes of conduct reflecting this Recommendation.

3. A periodic review mechanism shall evaluate the effectiveness of these measures and propose updates as technology evolves.

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Closing Statement

> In the house of digital connection, every platform is a host.

Privacy is a right — but responsibility is the roof that keeps us safe.

Let integrity, not illusion, be the foundation of our shared digital lives.