PAGBABAGO
Dr. Florangel Rosario-Braid
Led by UNESCO, member countries commemorated International Day for Universal Access to Information last Wednesday, with focus on the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI).
Why should this be of great interest and concern for all of us? The answer is obvious. Because of the impact now being felt in various aspects of our life by the new technologies including AI, our patterns of thinking, interaction and decision-making are gradually changing. It is therefore time to reflect on these changes with the intent to maximize their positive contribution. And their negative impact as well which are considerable and can no longer be ignored. They are ubiquitous and changing our lifestyles, work styles, and behaviour in a multitude of ways.
There is the growing threat from surveillance, scams, as well as disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech.
Too, there is a growing concern with data privacy. UNESCO notes that “safe and secure AI will be enabled by sustainable, privacy-protective data access frameworks that foster better training and validation of AI models.”
Our failure to maximally integrate the technology into our learning processes had been one factor to explain the continuing deterioration of the quality of our education. Our experience during almost three years of online learning had not been satisfactory due to inadequate access to technology and of course, to poor internet connectivity and inadequate information technology skills. This is especially the state in several marginalized areas of the country.
The recommendation notes the potential benefits of AI and digital technologies in upgrading media and information literacy especially in low and middle-income countries. But it had also raised fundamental ethical concerns. Technologies, it notes, “deepen existing divides and inequalities.” The more privileged societies in terms of technology access and technological skills have advanced much faster than the less developed societies. Thus, no one, no country should be left behind in acquiring information technology.
Thus, while acknowledging how we could have profited with improved access to technologies and skills needed to utilize them, we also note and agree with the report on ethical questions regarding biases embedded in them. That they can exacerbate fears of discrimination, exclusion, as well as cultural, social and economic divides. Thus, the need for transparency and understandability of the workings of algorithms and similar technological threats to our freedom of access to information.
That algorithm can be a threat to our individual freedoms or democracy has been acknowledged. Machine processing could limit our freedom to choose. But, we must weigh their gains against potential loss.
The UNESCO report also points out that the new technologies and AI can lead to increased concentration of supply in the hands of a few actors. Thus, it recommends a “universal framework of values, principles and actions to guide States in the formulation of policies consistent with international law in promoting and protecting respect for human rights, safeguarding environment, and fostering multistakeholder consensus on ethical issues, cultural diversity and inclusiveness.”
Finally, “public awareness and understanding of AI technology and the value of data should be promoted through open and accessible education, civic engagement, digital skills and ethics training, media and information literacy led by governments, intergovernmental organizations, civil society, academia, the media, community leaders, and the private sector to ensure effective public participation…..”
The above recommendation and specifically, the last one that can be crafted into legislation or brought to EDCOM 2 which has recently been created through legislation. The latter is an excellent forum for engagement among these stakeholders.
This group can also lead in the preparation of an Ethical Impact Assessment and a framework for Ethical Governance.
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