Unchecked AI threatens democracy, warns UN chief — World Points

These dangers are significantly essential this yr, as over 50 international locations – representing half the world’s inhabitants – maintain elections.

In a message for Sunday’s Worldwide Day of Democracy, Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated the significance of upholding free speech, civil liberties and the rule of regulation, in addition to guaranteeing accountable establishments and defending human rights.

“But, these rights and values are beneath assault around the globe. Freedoms are being eroded. Civic house is diminishing. Polarization is intensifying. And distrust is rising,” he mentioned.

A instrument for good governance

Regardless of the hazards, synthetic intelligence has the potential to play a constructive function in strengthening democratic techniques, he continued, noting that AI can promote full and lively public participation, improve equality and contribute to human growth.

“AI can increase training on democratic processes, and form extra inclusive civic areas the place individuals have a say in selections and might maintain decision-makers to account,” Mr. Guterres mentioned.

By using AI for good governance, international locations can create extra clear and accountable techniques, that permit residents to have interaction extra successfully. Nonetheless, this may require efficient governance of AI in any respect ranges, together with internationally.

Fostering accountable AI use

Mr. Guterres additionally highlighted the current report of the UN’s Excessive-Degree Advisory Physique on Synthetic Intelligence with suggestions on harnessing the advantages of AI whereas mitigating the dangers.

“The message is obvious: AI should serve humanity equitably and safely,” he pressured, including that the upcoming Summit of the Future will likely be a essential platform for nations to debate methods to strengthen worldwide cooperation on AI.

“On this Worldwide Day of Democracy, allow us to maintain working to construct a extra inclusive, simply, and equal world.”

Ladies’s political participation important

It’s equally essential to handle one other elementary side of democracy: the equal political participation of ladies, as emphasised by UN-Women, the lead company for gender equality.

“Their inclusion is a matter of justice and a key think about creating more practical governance,” the company mentioned, noting that girls’s illustration is important for advancing points similar to well being, training, and gender-based violence.

Regardless of this, girls’s voices stay underrepresented in decision-making globally.

Solely 27 international locations are led by girls – a rise from 18 a decade in the past – whereas girls maintain simply 23 per cent of cupboard positions worldwide, and solely 15 international locations have achieved gender parity of their cupboards.

Challenges to illustration

Dangerous social norms and gender-based violence proceed to hinder girls’s political rights and media stereotypes typically undermine their management capabilities. Moreover, on-line threats of violence in opposition to girls in politics and public life are rising, probably exacerbated by AI applied sciences.

To deal with these urgent issues, UN-Ladies urged governments to take proactive measures to shut the gender hole in political participation.

This consists of implementing gender quotas, combating violence in opposition to girls in politics, guaranteeing equal therapy of ladies voters and candidates, investing in capacity-building for girls candidates, and selling honest and clear media protection of ladies’s political roles.

The Worldwide Day

Commemorated yearly on 15 September, the International Day of Democracy supplies a chance to assessment the state of democracy on the earth. This yr, the main target is on the function of synthetic intelligence (AI) as a instrument for good governance.

It was established in 2007 by the UN Normal Meeting, which reaffirmed that democracy is a common worth primarily based on the freely expressed will of individuals to find out their very own political, financial, social and cultural techniques, and their full participation in all features of life.

The Meeting additionally inspired Governments to strengthen nationwide programmes dedicated to selling and consolidating democracy, together with by way of elevated bilateral, regional and worldwide cooperation.