Session
Round Table - 60 Min
Large online platforms have become a dominant source for information and news consumption. These platforms undertake many functions of information management that were previously carried out by traditional actors, such as editors and publishers. Their content governance processes therefore tremendously influence media freedom, access to information and freedom of expression. Along with the exponential growth of information shared online, many platforms have turned to developing and deploying technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) for content governance. AI is used to support the prioritization, downgrading and dissemination of content to audiences (content curation), as well as to filter and take down illegal, harmful, or otherwise unwanted content (content moderation). These AI-led processes provide the basis for how society interacts with information online today. However, the data and advertising-driven business model of online platforms is not necessarily conducive to safeguarding media pluralism or public interest and newsworthy content. On the contrary, their AI-driven content curation processes mostly focus on their own and advertisers’ economic interests rather than diversity, accuracy or the public good. Challenges arise particularly as these same processes of content governance are applied to news content as to all other types of online information. In this context, AI-based tools are not being designed to give due prominence to public interest content, but rather to promote, amplify, and target users with content that optimize engagement to facilitate advertising and generating profit for platforms, at the expense of media pluralism and public interest. Moreover, these AI-driven processes – that shape and arbitrate political and public discourse online – are executed by technology that is designed, developed, and deployed in potentially biased, and error prone ways, negatively impacting freedom of expression. Part of the problem is the lack of transparency of these AI tools. These technologies continue to transform and drastically change the media and information consumption as we know it. So it is particularly important to not only address its societal harms, but also consider ways to harness it for fulfilling the media’s democratic role and promoting human rights online. Latest policy and regulatory developments aimed at regulating the impact of AI on freedom of expression and other human rights, creates a momentum to call for a healthier digital public sphere, including recommender systems. This session will explore ways forward in promoting a healthier online information space, one that serves the public interest, advances democracy, and enables peace and security.
The session moderators will facilitate discussions online to ensure inclusive debates. The speakers will be key contributors who will set the scene but the focus is on moderated discussions rather than a formal panel set-up.
- Teresa Ribeiro, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
- Susie Alegre, Senior Fellow CIGI, Director Alegre International, Author of Freedom to Think
- Meera Selva, CEO of Internews Europe
- Khadija Patel, Chairperson of the IPI Board and Head of Programmes of The International Fund for Public Interest Media
- Deniz Wagner (moderator), Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Rapporteur: Julia Haas, Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
🔒OSCE
OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Multi-stakeholder discussion involving representatives from international organizations, civil society, academia, the media sector etc.
Deniz Wagner, [email protected]
Julia Haas, [email protected]
Targets: Comprehensive security, lasting peace, and sustainable development necessitate that human rights including freedom of expression and media freedom are respected, protected and fulfilled at all times. While technologies provide ample opportunities for increasing access to information and freedom of expression, it is essential to address the challenges to human rights posed by use of artificial intelligence and machine-learning technologies for shaping and arbitrating information spaces. It is equally important to explore ways in which public interest content can be promoted for healthier online information spaces.
Report
- Without independent quality media we (as individuals and societies) cannot understand the world we live in, we cannot create a shared reality, and we cannot form opinions and make decisions –> independent news media is essential to democracy, to enable a system where everyone has a say in how they’re govern and to hold this system to account.
- Online platforms are occupying the public information sphere – this power must come with responsibilities. Regulation centering on human rights, public interest, and rule of law is essential in this regard.
- Whole-of-society approach needed to safeguard quality information and to consistently uphold public interest amidst the transitional media landscape.
- We need to develop and implement a public interest framework to build a healthier online information space.
- Key takeaways
- Without independent quality media we (as individuals and societies) cannot understand the world we live in, we cannot create a shared reality, and we cannot form opinions and make decisions –> independent news media is essential to democracy, to enable a system where everyone has a say in how they’re govern and to hold this system to account.
- We find ourselves in a moment of prolonged crises for the media, and for democracy – but while this is a moment of crises it is also a great moment of opportunity.
- We have to keep it human, especially in a time when AI threatens democracy – the news media has to double-down on humanity and integrity to overcome the challenges of the pollution in our current information ecosystem.
- Necessary to ensure access to quality news globally – currently there is a divergence between online platforms’ majority users, where they make money, and where regulation is developed.
- Everyone needs access to quality information, it should not be limited to those who can afford it, otherwise others are at risk of exploitation and control.
- Online platforms are occupying the public information sphere – this power must come with responsibilities. Regulation centering on human rights, public interest, and rule of law is essential in this regard.
- Both democracy and quality news media is about empowering people, to create and sustain an active citizenry and vibrant communities, which is a prerequisite of public, political, and democratic participation.
- News media has been transforming significantly over the last decade but identifying characteristics are being built on principles and codes, being accountable to itself, based on quality, and being transparent about its processes and itself (to avoid any undue influence, be it commercial or political). Therefore, it can serve the public interest.
- The 2023 Joint Declaration on Media Freedom and Democracy coined what is needed for the media to take on its fundamental role in democracy: https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/3/2/542676.pdf.
- Call-to-action points
- Whole-of-society approach needed to safeguard quality information and to consistently uphold public interest amidst the transitional media landscape.
- We need to develop and implement a public interest framework to build a healthier online information space.
- Need to create and ensure technology for democracy, opportunity to harness technology’s potential (especially by thinking of local levels rather than scale).
- Need to recalibrate the relationship between news media and online platforms, but also with democratic institutions.
- Online platforms have to be more accountable and play a role in overcoming global digital information inequalities.
- As the challenges are highly complex, any response requires an intersectional and multi-stakeholder approach.