Internet for Social Empowerment

Abstract

As is well known, technology plays a pivotal role in promoting issues related to human dignity, gender equality, social discrimination, basic needs, fundamental rights, inclusivity, and governance. Changes in technology over time have highlighted the challenges of equitable access to information as well as new issues in content regulation. The rapid expansion in the use of digital technology, especially the Internet, social media platforms, and now AI, has supported access to information on a massive scale. It has also introduced new threats concerning the potential negative and harmful nature of content that spreads virally. UNESCO-IFAP and its member States have been exploring the policy implications of digital technologies. Many governments have come up with guidelines and other mechanisms to regulate the use of the Internet, including digital platforms. These have implications for citizens, content creators and developers, and the media. It is in this context that the Global AI Ethics Network for Social Good (GAIEN4SG), University of Hyderabad, India, in partnership with UNESCO-IFAP Working Group on Information for Development, has organized an international conference on “Internet for Social Good: A Multi-Stakeholder Understanding” during 24-25 May 2023 to explore these issues further. This issue includes five selected papers that deal with AI ethics, cyber security, regulation of OTT platforms, empowering marginalised languages through the Internet, and the role of digital literacy in language maintenance presented in the conference.