On the one side is the immense promise of sharing information, awareness, discussion, networking and cooperation toward collective betterment. On the other, there are data breaches, limits on the freedom of expression, privacy violations, fake news, inflammatory propaganda content toward conflict.
In the face of pervasive influence of technologies, it seems that any worthwhile and effective solution has to be multi-faceted, all-inclusive and multidimensional.
However, there is one consideration that should underpin all efforts toward making the best use of the digital technology, particularly the artificial intelligence-fired advancement. And that is human rights.
Recently, the UN’s top human rights official has called for human rights to be placed at the center of this transformation.
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The pace of technological evolution also poses serious risks, warned Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Among the downsides he referred to restrictions on free expression and privacy violations to discrimination and growing threats to our shared sense of truth and reality.
“It is precisely in the face of massive change, that we need more human rights, not less,” he said.
He made these remarks on the twentieth anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva.
“States’ legal obligations and companies’ duties to respect human rights offer guidance to tackle disinformation and protect our data from illicit use,” Türk said citing solutions.
Significantly, he noted that such guidance also helps counter algorithmic bias, digital hate speech, and fosters trust and inclusive digital decision-making.
Founded in 2001, the inaugural WSIS was held in two phases in December 2003 (Geneva) and November 2005 (Tunis).
Since then, the forum has brought together diverse stakeholders to collaborate on digital governance and promote a digital landscape that is people-centered, inclusive and development-oriented, the UN said.
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“[The WSIS] helped create a space for States, technology companies, civil society, and others to harness the power of information and communication technologies for development,” said Türk.
“We have a window of opportunity to make a difference,” he said.
“We must join forces – States, technology companies, international organizations, civil society, and others – to work towards an inclusive and open digital environment for everyone, everywhere.”
Clearly, the digital world has to be safe for people of all ages, especially those vulnerable.
The battle to offset negatives – already visible in various aspects of the society – must be centered around the immutable principles of human rights as foundation of the technology-driven civilization.
