ICT4Peace Foundation

29/06/2024

The ICT4Peace Foundation is delighted to release the Fourth episode of Digital Distortions, a podcast series looking at the role, reach, and relevance of disinformation, and truth decay in contemporary democracies, hosted by the Foundation’s Special Advisor Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa, and supported by the Daniel Gablinger Foundation.

This podcast features an in-depth conversation with Sophie Achermann who studies public discourse online. She is the co-founder, and managing director of the Public Discourse Foundation, a Swiss-based foundation that aims to research, and strengthen public discourse on the Internet. Achermann brings a wealth of experience from her work in Switzerland and beyond, tackling online harassment and promoting safer digital spaces. Throughout their conversation, Hattotuwa and Achermann explore the multifaceted challenges of combating online hate, from algorithmic solutions to the power of empathy in counter-speech. They discuss the real-world impacts of digital harassment, particularly on women in politics and public life, and examine the delicate balance between free speech and content moderation. The dialogue also touches on the potential of AI, both as a challenge and a tool, in addressing these issues.

Digital Distortions: Sophie Achermann on online harms, and gendered violence on social media ICT4Peace Podcasts, Digital Distortions, Activities share this page

26/05/2024

The ICT4Peace Foundation is delighted to release the third episode of Digital Distortions, a podcast series looking at the role, reach, and relevance of disinformation, and truth decay in contemporary democracies, hosted by the Foundation’s Special Advisor Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa, and supported by the Daniel Gablinger Foundation.

This podcast features an in-depth conversation with the award-winning journalist Marie-Astrid Langer, who is the US correspondent for the venerable Swiss newspaper, Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ). First published as the Zürcher Zeitung (Zurich Journal) in January 1780, the newspaper was renamed as the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, or the NZZ for short, in 1821. It has been published without interruption since, making the NZZ the oldest newspaper in Switzerland and one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in the world. Langer has an MBA from University of Tübingen, and is alumna of the Henri-Nannen-Journalism School. Her beat involves reporting all technology related news, and developments in the US.

The conversation between Langer, and Hattotuwa highlighted the crucial role tech journalists play in bridging the gap between the insular world of Silicon Valley innovation and the broader societal implications and public understanding of these technologies. But it also underscored the immense challenges involved in reporting on an industry of such consolidated power and a culture often lacking in diversity, ethics and self-reflection.

Digital Distortions: Marie-Astrid Langer on reporting technology, and life in Silicon Valley ICT4Peace Podcasts, Digital Distortions, Activities share this page

02/04/2024

The ICT4Peace Foundation is delighted to release the second episode of Digital Distortions, a podcast series looking at the role, reach, and relevance of disinformation, and truth decay in contemporary democracies, hosted by the Foundation’s Special Advisor Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa, and supported by the Daniel Gablinger Foundation.

This podcast features an in-depth conversation with Karsten Donnay, Assistant Professor of Political Behavior and Digital Media in the Department of Political Science and part of the Digital Society Initiative of the University of Zurich as a DSI professor.

In this thought-provoking episode of the ICT4Peace Foundation’s Digital Distortions podcast, the second in the series, host Dr. Sanjana Hattotuwa engages in a wide-ranging conversation with Assistant Professor Karsten Donnay from the University of Zurich about the complex challenges posed by the rapid digitalisation of politics and society. Professor Donnay shares insights from his research on how digital platforms are changing political behaviour, news consumption, and perceptions of reality. The discussion delves into the lack of understanding and action from policymakers, particularly in Switzerland, regarding pressing issues like misinformation, hate speech, and the impacts of generative AI. Donnay, and Hattotuwa also examine the potential dangers of social media fragmenting into smaller, more ideologically homogeneous platforms, and the increasing barriers researchers face in studying these phenomena as companies restrict data access. They reflect on how the nature of online discourse seems to have deteriorated since the COVID-19 pandemic and the worrying trend of people losing interest in objective truth in favour of simpler explanations. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Hattotuwa and Professor Donnay grapple with the difficulty of finding solutions to these complex problems, but emphasise the importance of promoting a nuanced understanding of the world in the face of simplistic narratives.

This episode offers a fascinating window into some of the most critical challenges we face in the digital age.

https://ict4peace.org/activities/ai-and-misinformation/digital-distortions-karsten-donnay/

10/02/2024

The ICT4Peace Foundation is delighted to release the first episode of Digital Distortions, a podcast series looking at the role, reach, and relevance of disinformation, and truth decay in contemporary democracies, hosted by the Foundation’s Special Advisor Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa, and supported by the Daniel Gablinger Foundation.

This podcast features an in-depth converastion with veteran open source intelligence expert Eoghan Sweeney. Sweeney, and Hattotuwa explore the dramatic changes that have unfolded in the online information landscape over the past decade. Their conversation comes in the aftermath of the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas that has resulted in unprecedented volumes of disinformation flooding social media channels.

Sweeney shares insights from his over 15 years of experience investigating content and verifying sources to battle deception. He traces the evolution of techniques like fact checking, while also warning of excessive faith being placed in these approaches alone to combat false narratives. Both speakers grapple with the extreme, affect-charged polarisation propagated via social platforms in conflict situations and the difficulty of establishing truth. Looking ahead, concerns get raised about the potential for artificial intelligence like generative text models to manufacture fake accounts, documents, and multimedia at staggering scales. With human creators already overmatched, such technologies risk further confusing and manipulating information consumers. Sweeney urges societies to prioritise awareness, media literacy efforts, and teaching healthy skepticism. The podcast also examines the crossroads where information technology, mass deception, and human psychology collide. Based on this, Sweeney highlights grave threats but also pathways to hope if ordinary citizens exercise discernment and if democracies invest in knowledge over propaganda.

29/12/2023

In this new report and submission to the United Nations, ICT4Peace considers the ad-revenue models of social media platforms that amplify misinformation and generate externality costs and proposes innovative solutions to mitigate these effects.

The UN is developing a Code of Conduct for information integrity on digital platforms. It seeks to provide a concerted global response to information threats that is firmly rooted in human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression and opinion and access to information.

The voluntary Code will help guide Member States, digital platforms and other groups in their efforts to make the digital space more inclusive and safer for all.

As part of the UN’s consultation process on the Code of Conduct for information security on digital platforms, ICT4Peace submitted the following input, written by Anne-Marie Buzatu, Executive Director, ICT4Peace.

Addressing Externality Costs of Misinformation in the Digital AgeBy Anne-Marie Buzatu, Executive Director of ICT4Peace UN, United Nations Department of Global Communications (DPI), ICT4Peace Commentary, UN Security Council, UN First Committee - Disarmament and International Security, AI, disinformat...

29/12/2023

While wars are fought between armies or militant groups, conflicts have their keyboard warriors too. It is estimated that more than half of the world uses social media, and many people do not go to traditional media as a source of information at all. As social media use increases, unease has grown among EU decision-makers about the power of these platforms to potentially distort people's view of the world. The EU has tried to regulate on disinformation through the Digital Services Act (DSA), but how successful has that effort been? Our panellists assess the impact of the DSA and raise other issues that are connected to disinformation, such as spyware and election interference.

While wars are fought between armies or militant groups, conflicts have their keyboard warriors too. It is estimated that more than half of the world uses social media, and many people do not go to traditional…

20/12/2023

From 10 to 12 December 2003 the UN held the first World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva, where Heads of States and Governments approved the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Geneva Plan of Action for the Information Society.

20th Anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in GenevaFrom 10 to 12 December 2003 the First UN World Summit on the Information Society was held in Geneva. Heads of States and Governments approved the Geneva Declaration of Principles and Plan of Action for the Information So...

20/12/2023

In cooperation with the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), ICT4Peace Executive Director Anne-Marie Buzatu, recently moderated an expert panel discussion focused on the multifaceted approach required to address the unique needs of Francophone Africa with regard to digital competency. She was joined by an imminent group of experts, Ms. Florence Brillouin, Director of Economic and Digital Francophonie at the International Organization of La Francophonie, Mr. Juan Bang Edu Mangue, Director of Information Systems and Telecommunications at the Central African Development Bank, Mr. Charles Tontama Millongo, Digital Economy Manager at the West African Development Bank, Mr. Juan Martin Lataix, Digitalization Expert at ILO, and, Ms. Samia Melhem, a Senior Policy Officer at the World Bank.Together, these experts presented a multifaceted approach to digital capacity building that is critical for the economic transformation of Francophone Africa.

ICT4Peace is pleased to continue its important collaboration with the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), building on its earlier work to develop concrete recommendations for implementing the 2022-2026 digital strategy of the Francophonie.

Digital Empowerment in Francophone Africa: Paving the Way for Economic Growth through Capacity BuildingICT4Peace Executive Director Anne-Marie Buzatu moderates expert panel discussion at CNUCED/UNCTAD eWeek 2023 Activities share this page

20/12/2023

Statement by Anne-Marie Buzatu, ICT4Peace Executive Director to the OEWG Informal Stakeholder Consultations, 6 December 2023

Thank you to the chair and secretariat for this opportunity to present in the Informal OEWG Stakeholder Consultations, an opportunity that we very much appreciate.

Today, my brief remarks will address three critical areas:

First, the necessity of addressing mis/disinformation within the OEWG’s focus on Emerging Threats.

Second, the crucial need to enhance meaningful stakeholder participation in Institutional Dialogue.

And third, the imperative of consistently expanding the knowledge base of law and policymakers, as well as of other stakeholders, through Capacity and Confidence Building Measures to enable informed decisions and effective regulation
in the realm of ICTs, with a special emphasis on AI.

Statement by ICT4Peace to the OEWG Informal Stakeholder Consultations, 6 December 2023Statement by Anne-Marie Buzatu, ICT4Peace Executive Director to the OEWG Informal Stakeholder Consultations, 6 December 2023 UN First Committee - Disarmament and International Security, Activities, ICT4Peace Suppor...

20/12/2023

Dr Patrick Meier invented the concept of using crisis mapping in humanitarian emergencies. He is currently Lead, Strategy & Engagement at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (Swiss Institute of Technology).

Dr Sanjana Hattotuwa, Special Advisor at ICT4Peace, engaged in a conversation with Meier recently, tracing over two decades of both knowing each other, and the origins, evolution, and philosophical dimensions of digital humanitarianism.

Meier, who helped spawn the field of crisis mapping through mass crowd-sourcing after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, explains the importance of volunteer technical communities in early digital response efforts. According to Meier, the accumulation of knowledge and standard operating procedures within these networks helped drive innovation. However, he emphasises the primacy of human values over tools, noting that technologies change but collective action remains constant.

Two decades of humanitarian innovation: In conversation with Patrick Meier Podcasts, Activities, Policy Research ICT, New media for crisis management and peacebuilding, Strategic input into and participation in UAviators.net, Support to crisis mapping and ICCM share this page