Last updated: 20 September 2026

1. Scope and Acceptance

These Terms and Conditions of Participation (Terms) apply to individual media professionals applying to join or approved to participate in the International Charter for Media Integrity and Countering Disinformation (Charter), an initiative of the International Center for Countering Media Disinformation (ICCMD).

By submitting an application, the applicant confirm that they have read, understood, and agreed to comply with:

• The principles and professional standards of the Charter
• These Terms
• The applicable Privacy and Data Processing Policy
• Any certificate, badge, Registry, or verification requirements published by ICCMD

Participation is voluntary and remains subject to review, verification, approval, and continued compliance.

2. Eligible Individual Applicants

Eligible applicants may include journalists, editors, reporters, correspondents, broadcasters, presenters, producers, photographers, videographers, fact-checkers, researchers, media educators, media consultants, digital media professionals, and other individuals whose professional activities are relevant to the Charter's objectives.

Applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess the legal capacity to apply, and provide sufficient evidence of identity and relevant professional activity. Belonging to an eligible category does not guarantee approval.

3. Accuracy and Authenticity

The applicant confirm that all submitted information and documents are complete, accurate, authentic, current, legally obtained, and not altered, fraudulent, misleading, or deceptive.

The applicant must not impersonate another person, submit forged, expired, or invalid documents, conceal information relevant to eligibility or verification, make false or misleading declarations, or misrepresent their identity, qualifications, professional status, or activities.

The individual must promptly notify ICCMD if any material submitted information changes.

4. Verification Documents

The applicant may be required to provide:

• A valid national identity card or passport
• Evidence of current or previous professional media activity
• A professional identification card, employment letter, portfolio, published work, membership record, academic credential, or equivalent supporting evidence
• Any additional documentation reasonably required to complete the assessment

Documents must be clear, valid, legible, complete, and submitted in an accepted format. ICCMD may request updated or replacement documents, clarification, certified copies, official translations, confirmation from an issuing authority, or additional evidence relevant to eligibility or verification.

5. Application Review and Verification

Applications may proceed through the following stages:

1. Application submission

2. Document verification

3. Eligibility review

4. Request for clarification or additional documentation

5. Approval or rejection

6. Charter signature, where applicable

7. Issuance of an ICCMD registration number

8. Inclusion in the International Signatories Registry

9. Issuance of the Certificate of Commitment

10. Issuance of the Committed to the Charter Standards badge, where applicable

ICCMD may verify information through official registries, publicly available records, submitted documents, direct communication with the applicant or issuing authorities, and other lawful and appropriate verification methods. Review times may vary depending on the completeness and complexity of the application and the availability of verifiable records.

6. Requests for Additional Information

ICCMD may request additional information or documentation at any stage. The applicant must respond within the period stated in the request or, where no period is specified, within a reasonable time.

Failure to respond may delay the application, temporarily close the review, lead to rejection, or result in suspension of an approved status pending clarification. Providing additional information does not guarantee approval.

7. No Automatic Acceptance or Accreditation

Submission of an application does not constitute or guarantee acceptance as a Charter signatory, accreditation, governmental or regulatory recognition, professional licensing, certification of the individual's publications, services, or operations, endorsement by ICCMD, inclusion in the International Signatories Registry, issuance of a registration number, certificate, or badge, or approval of any publication, report, project, program, service, or professional activity.

Approval must be formally communicated by ICCMD.

8. Commitment to the Charter

If approved, the individual voluntarily commits to uphold the Charter's principles and professional standards, including:

• Accuracy and verification
• Integrity and independence
• Transparency and accountability
• Responsible media and digital practices
• Professional neutrality
• Responsible correction of significant errors
• Responsible use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies
• Respect for applicable laws, sovereignty, national identity, cultural characteristics, and differing media and social contexts
• Promotion of media and information literacy
• Responsible action against media disinformation

The individual must apply these principles in a manner appropriate to their professional activities, operational context, and applicable legal obligations.

9. Nature of Participation

Participation represents a voluntary professional commitment. It does not create a partnership, agency, employment, franchise, or joint venture with ICCMD; authority to represent or legally bind ICCMD; regulatory, governmental, diplomatic, or licensing status; immunity from applicable laws or professional obligations; or approval or endorsement of every activity or publication of the individual.

The individual remains independently responsible for their conduct, publications, professional activities, services, and legal obligations.

10. International Signatories Registry

Following approval, ICCMD may include the signatory's name, professional title, country, profile information, registration number, certificate status, and other approved public information in the International Signatories Registry.

Only information identified during the application process as public information will be published. Personal identity documents, private contact details, verification records, and other protected information will not be displayed publicly unless disclosure is required by law or separately authorized.

Registry inclusion remains subject to continued compliance and may be updated, suspended, or removed if the signatory's status changes.

11. Certificate of Commitment

An approved individual may receive a Certificate of Commitment confirming their approved signatory status.

The certificate recognizes a voluntary commitment to the Charter, is issued only to the approved individual, remains subject to the individual's current status, and does not constitute regulatory accreditation or governmental approval.

The certificate must not be transferred, sold, assigned, deceptively reproduced, altered, or used after suspension, withdrawal, expiration, or revocation. It must not be used to claim that ICCMD has approved or guaranteed every publication, project, service, or professional activity of the individual.

The certificate's authenticity and current status may be displayed through ICCMD's verification system.

12. Committed to the Charter Standards Badge

Where issued, the individual may display the official Committed to the Charter Standards badge in accordance with ICCMD's usage requirements.

The individual must not modify the badge's wording, design, colours, or proportions; create an imitation badge; use it for an unapproved individual, affiliate, branch, product, or service; transfer or sublicense it; combine it with a false or misleading claim; present it as governmental accreditation, regulatory approval, or general endorsement; or continue using it after suspension, withdrawal, expiration, or revocation.

ICCMD may require correction or removal of unauthorized, inaccurate, or misleading badge use.

13. ICCMD Name and Intellectual Property

All rights relating to the Charter, ICCMD name, logos, seals, certificates, badges, designs, Registry, verification systems, and related materials remain with ICCMD or their respective lawful owners. Approval does not transfer ownership of any intellectual property.

The individual may accurately refer to their approved signatory status but must not claim to be or officially represent ICCMD, imply a partnership, sponsorship, endorsement, or accreditation that does not exist, create unauthorized certificates or badges, register confusingly similar names or branding, or use ICCMD materials deceptively.

Any permission to use a certificate, badge, or signatory reference is limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and dependent on continued approved status.

14. Continuing Responsibilities

An approved individual signatory must continue complying with the Charter and these Terms, maintain accurate and current information, promptly report material changes, avoid misrepresenting the meaning of participation, cooperate with reasonable verification requests, and use ICCMD certificates, badges, and identifiers only as authorized.

Material changes may include changes to the signatory's name, professional status, contact information, country of residence, or circumstances affecting eligibility or verification.

15. Monitoring and Status Review

ICCMD may review an individual's continued eligibility or compliance where reasonably necessary. A review may arise from material changes in legal or operational status, expired or unverifiable documents, credible concerns regarding submitted information, misuse of the Charter name or credentials, conduct materially inconsistent with the Charter, failure to respond to verification requests, a credible complaint, or information relevant to the integrity of the Charter or Registry.

Opening a review does not automatically establish wrongdoing. ICCMD may request an explanation or supporting documentation before making a final decision.

16. Complaints and Relevant Information

ICCMD may receive information or complaints concerning an applicant or approved individual. Where appropriate, ICCMD may assess relevance and credibility, request clarification and supporting documents, disregard information that is clearly irrelevant, abusive, unsupported, or submitted in bad faith, and take proportionate administrative action.

ICCMD is not required to disclose information where disclosure would breach legal, privacy, security, confidentiality, or legitimate third-party obligations.

17. Suspension

ICCMD may temporarily suspend an individual's status while reviewing a material concern. During suspension, ICCMD may mark the certificate as suspended, temporarily update or hide the Registry entry, require the individual to stop using the certificate and badge, request clarification or corrective action, and restrict representation of active signatory status.

Suspension is a temporary administrative measure and does not necessarily constitute a final decision.

18. Revocation

ICCMD may revoke the individual's signatory status, certificate, registration number, Registry listing, or badge where there are reasonable grounds.

Grounds may include false, fraudulent, altered, or materially misleading information; forged, invalid, expired, or unverifiable documents; loss of eligibility; misrepresentation of the individual's relationship with ICCMD; unauthorized use of ICCMD intellectual property; misuse of the Charter name or credentials; material or repeated breach of these Terms; serious or repeated conduct inconsistent with the Charter; failure to cooperate with a legitimate review or complete required corrective action; loss of professional eligibility or a material change in professional status; or other material circumstances affecting the integrity of participation.

Where appropriate, ICCMD may provide notice of the decision and their reason. Following revocation, the certificate will no longer be valid, their verification status may display Revoked, the Registry entry may be removed or updated, the badge must no longer be used, and the individual must stop claiming active signatory status and remove digital and printed representations of that status within a reasonable period.

19. Voluntary Withdrawal

An individual may request withdrawal through an official ICCMD communication channel. Following confirmation, active signatory status will end, the Registry entry may be removed or marked as withdrawn, the certificate and badge will no longer represent active participation, and the individual must stop representing themselves as an active signatory.

Withdrawal does not require deletion of records that ICCMD must or may lawfully retain for security, verification, administrative, audit, dispute-resolution, or legal purposes.

20. Rejection and Reapplication

ICCMD may reject an application that does not meet applicable eligibility, documentation, verification, or participation requirements. Where appropriate, ICCMD may provide a reason.

An individual may provide corrected information or submit a revised application where permitted. Any revised or future application may be treated as a new application, will undergo a new review and verification process, and does not guarantee approval.

21. Privacy and Data Processing

Application information and documents may be collected, used, stored, verified, and processed to assess eligibility; verify the applicant's identity and professional information; communicate with the applicant; administer participation; maintain the Registry; issue and verify registration numbers, certificates, and badges; conduct status or compliance reviews; prevent fraud, misuse, and misrepresentation; maintain security and administrative records; and meet applicable legal obligations.

Information will be handled in accordance with the applicable Privacy and Data Processing Policy. The applicant must separately confirm that they have read and understood that policy.

22. Confidentiality and Document Security

ICCMD will use reasonable administrative and technical measures appropriate to protect submitted information and verification documents. Access may be limited to authorized persons and service providers who require the information for legitimate application, verification, administrative, technical, or legal purposes.

No electronic transmission or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Applicants are responsible for submitting documents through the designated application system and avoiding unnecessary sensitive information.

23. Third-Party Verification and Service Providers

ICCMD may use appropriate service providers or lawful third-party sources to support identity and individual verification, document processing, email delivery, secure file storage, website administration, certificate generation and verification, Registry administration, and fraud and security checks.

Where providers process information on ICCMD's behalf, access should be limited to the relevant purpose and governed by applicable privacy and data-processing requirements.

24. Official Communications

The individual must provide a valid official email address and contact number. ICCMD may use these details for application acknowledgements, verification requests, requests for additional information, approval or rejection notifications, Registry and certificate communications, compliance or status reviews, suspension, withdrawal, or revocation notices, and administrative updates.

The individual is responsible for monitoring their official contact channels and notifying ICCMD when their contact details or other material information change.

25. No Transfer of Status

Approved signatory status, registration numbers, certificates, and badges are personal to the approved individual and may not be transferred, assigned, sold, licensed, or used by another person or entity.

26. Limitation of Representation and Responsibility

ICCMD is not responsible for the individual's publications, statements, professional activities, services, or editorial decisions, legal or regulatory obligations, or unauthorized use of the Charter, certificate, badge, or registration number.

The individual remains responsible for ensuring that their activities comply with applicable laws, professional obligations, and third-party rights. To the extent permitted by applicable law, ICCMD is not responsible for losses arising from reliance on inaccurate representations made by an applicant or signatory. Nothing in these Terms excludes any responsibility that cannot lawfully be excluded.

27. Website and Verification System Availability

ICCMD may update, maintain, suspend, or temporarily interrupt their website, Registry, application system, or certificate-verification service. Temporary interruption does not invalidate an otherwise active certificate, but the individual must not misrepresent their status during an interruption.

ICCMD may correct technical or administrative errors in Registry or certificate records.

28. Amendments

ICCMD may update the Charter, these Terms, or related procedures to reflect changes in participation requirements, verification procedures, Registry administration, certificate or badge use, privacy or security practices, legal or regulatory obligations, or professional and operational standards.

The latest version may be published on the ICCMD website with an updated revision date. ICCMD may request renewed acceptance where an amendment materially affects participation.

29. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

30. No Waiver

Failure or delay by ICCMD in enforcing a requirement does not permanently waive that requirement or prevent later enforcement. Any exception must be expressly authorized by ICCMD.

31. Interpretation

ICCMD administers the Charter and may interpret these Terms for application review, eligibility assessment, verification, Registry administration, certificate and badge use, status review, suspension, withdrawal, and revocation.

ICCMD may introduce reasonable technical, administrative, security, and verification procedures necessary to protect the integrity of the Charter.

32. Acceptance by the Individual Applicant

By submitting the application or signing electronically, the applicant confirms that they have read and understood the Charter and these Terms, intend to be legally and ethically bound by the declarations and commitments made in the application, have provided complete and authentic information, and consent to the applicable review, verification, Registry, certificate, badge, communication, and data-processing requirements.

The applicant further confirms: "I confirm that I have read and understood, and agree to comply with, the principles, professional standards, and conditions of participation set out in the International Charter for Media Integrity and Countering Disinformation."

33. Contact

Questions about the Charter, these Terms, an application, signatory status, Registry listing, certificate, badge, suspension, withdrawal, or revocation may be directed to:

General Secretariat

sg@iccmdcenter.org