UN chief calls for coordinated global action on disinformation, hate

The proliferation of hate and lies on digital platforms and the threat that artificial intelligence can become an uncontrolled monster demand coordinated global action starting with a code of conduct for governments tech companies and advertisers that promotes truth and protects human rights the UN chief said MondaySecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said he plans to appoint a scientific advisory board in a few days and an advisory board on artificial intelligence in September to prepare initiatives that the UN can take He said he would react favourably to a new UN agency on artificial intelligence and suggested as a model the International Atomic Energy Agency which is knowledgebased and has some regulatory powersGuterres told a news conference he plans to consult widely on the just released principles for the UN Code of Conduct for Information Integrity on Digital Platforms which he will issue before next years UN Summit of the Future He expressed hope that the code will be widely supported but when asked whether governments and tech companies are willing to take steps to make digital space safer he replied Thats the question I ask myselfWe are dealing with a business that generates massive profits and we are dealing also in some situations with governments that do not entirely respect human rights so this is a constant battle and in this constant battle we must mobilise all those that are committed to information integrity in digital platforms he saidHeidi Beirich cofounder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism agreed that while its a positive step that the UN is calling for international solutions to this global problem its code of conduct wont likely be sufficient to stop the torrent of false and hateful information onlineThe fact of the matter is that voluntary codes including the companies own terms of service on these issues have failed to rein them in Beirich said The problem for the UNN is they cant do what it seems is going to have to be done to deal with this problem which is basically legislation Guterres said there are many initiatives underway including a law and code of conduct in the European Union for its 27 member nations and a UK summit on AI safety in the autumn Other governments also are looking into forms of regulationBut he said there is a view that regulation isnt easy because things are moving very quickly and that therefore a global approach is needed Guterres said a key problem is that the tech company business model prioritises engagement over privacy truth and human rights He said tech companies need to understand that massive profits cannot be created at the expense of a model of engagement that goes before any other considerationThe UN chief said the code of conduct will not be a solution but it will be global and it will enable governments tech companies advertisers and others to commit to what needs to be done in order to guarantee or at least to seriously promote information integrity in digital platforms The principles Guterres laid out for the code of conduct include commitments to refrain from using supporting or amplifying disinformation and hate speech for any purposeFor governments it seeks commitments not to respond to misinformation disinformation and hate speech by blocking legitimate comment shutting down the internet or banning platforms or media outlets and to guarantee protections for journalists and independent mediaFor companies that control digital platforms it seeks a pledge to be transparent about their algorithms advertising and how they deal with misinformation disinformation and hate speech and to eliminate double standards that allow hate speech and disinformation to flourish in some languages and countries while they are prevented more effectively in othersTech companies are also urged to give people a greater choice over the content that they see and how their data is used Guterres said a commitment sought from digital platforms includes urgent and immediate measures to ensure that all AI applications are safe secure responsible and ethical and comply with human rights obligationsHe said the United Nations will try to be in the centre of all the networks and movements that will be created to deal with AI technology as it develops But he said this wont be easy because governments and international organisations havent invested sufficiently in recent decades in personnel who have the necessary scientific and technical knowledgeIt also requires the commitment of the platforms themselves and of the AI creators themselves Guterres said but we will do our best to be a platform where everybody can be together in order to make this agenda advance positivelyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the 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