Challenges of hate speech in traditional and digital media and online security issues were discussed at the International Media ethics Day 2014 workshop organized by Media Development Foundation (MDF) in partnership with Ilia State University and UN Association of Georgian(UNAG) on 19 September at Ilia State University in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Giga Zedania, he rector of Ilia State University, Vato Abashidze, head of Georgian National Communication Commission and Ramaz Aptsiauri, representing the UNAG/USAID project Advancing National Integration in Georgia welcomed the IMED 2014 participants.

The first panel was dedicated to the topic of media self-regulation and antidiscrimination experience within campaign No to Phobia! As an example of the best practices Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Georgian Service representative Gogi Gvakharia shared internal editorial policies that should be observed while blogging on RFE/RL web platform.

Representative of Data Exchange Agency delivered presentation on cyber attacks and data protection challenges Georgia faces, while civil activists talked about illegal dissemination of hidden recordings of private nature in social media and available mechanisms of protecting privacy of individuals.

Students of Ilia State University presented a moot role play on hate speech case initiated by the group of NGOs vs. Georgian Public Broadcaster (GPB) in self-regulation body.

Award ceremony and presentation of textbook Media Ethics and Professional Standards, as well as PSAs produced within the format of No to Phobia! campaign was a part of the event.

More than 70 participants representing media, academia, non-governmental sector, students, regulatory bodies and citizens attended the IMED 2014 in Tbilisi.

The aim of the annual IMED is to mobilize media professionals, IT experts, bloggers, students and interested citizens worldwide to discuss ethical dilemmas locally.

It is the first time when Georgia joined the IMED.

From the first IMED in 2011 with only 300 participants from 11 countries, the event has grown a popular worldwide initiative with more than 800 participants from 32 countries in 2013. 50 countries participated  in IMED 2014.