23 June, 16:00-17:30, Plenary Hall

Speaker: Bjørn BERGE, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

High Level Session: Losing the information space? Ensuring fundamental rights and resilient societies in the age of big tech

The influence of global tech companies is growing across the political, social and economic realms. The business model of tech companies is underpinned by data, particularly data collected on their platforms’ users. Platform economics, which optimize the capture of users’ attention, leave open considerable risks for manipulation of the information space by mis- and disinformation campaigns. How can we safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms at stake?
 

23 June, 14:20-14:40, Open stage, Hall A1 Village Area

Lightning Talk #245: Advancing Equality and inclusion in AI

The session will present measures that can be taken to operationalise safeguards and remedies against discrimination in the use of AI systems, engage with groups most at risk and equip human rights supervisory bodies.

The Study on the impact of artificial intelligence systems, their potential for promoting equality – including gender equality - and the risks they may cause in relation to non-discrimination adopted by the Gender Equality Commission (GEC) and the Steering Committee on Anti-discrimination, Diversity and Inclusion of the Council of Europe (CDADI) in 2023, and numerous other studies have highlighted the risks that AI systems pose to equality, including gender equality, and non-discrimination, online and offline, in a variety of sectors. These range from employment, through the online targeted distribution of job adverts, to the provision of goods or services in both the public and private sectors such as online loan applications, or to public security policies or the fight against fraud. For example, the report Bias in Algorithms from the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights shows how easily speech detection algorithms can be biased against certain groups.

The groups that are most affected by bias in AI systems are very often the same groups and individuals as those at risk of discrimination in society. These groups, as well as women, also experience structural inequality, and struggle to meaningfully participate in forums that develop, deploy and regulate new digital technologies and promote inclusion in AI.

The CoE and EU are jointly building the capacity of equality bodies and representatives of groups most affected by discrimination, including by biases in AI systems. The EU and CoE want to provide a platform at the IGF to share ideas on how to ensure sufficient safeguards against discrimination and access to effective remedies.

25 June, 12:45-14:00, Workshop Room 5, Hall C

Open Forum #16 AI and Disinformation: Countering the Threats to Democratic Dialogue

This session will address the challenges deriving from the use of AI tools generating and spreading disinformation and the distinctive threats these pose to democratic dialogue. Starting with a presentation of the Council of Europe Guidance Note on countering the spread of online mis- and disinformation through factchecking and platform design solutions in a human rights’ compliant manner, participants will discuss practical measures policymakers and stakeholders can take, such as support for fact-checking, platform-design solutions and user empowerment. The session will also examine the role and responsibilities of digital platforms in both the dissemination of false AI generated information and the promotion of quality journalism.

Panellists will share their experiences, challenges, and strategies for combating AI-driven disinformation and the efforts put in place to maintaining trust in news production. The discussion will also address the challenges arising in this context from the rising use of generative AI systems, including key technologies like deepfakes, highlighting the need for regular updates and careful vigilance in understanding disinformation.