MANHATTAN: Secretary General António Guterres, in his message on the occasion of Int’l Day of Democracy (2024) has said that it was an opportunity to reinforce the importance of upholding free speech, civil liberties, and the rule of law; ensuring accountable institutions; and protecting and promoting human rights.
UN Secretary General further said: “This is especially crucial in a year where more than 50 countries – representing half of the global population – are holding elections.
“Yet, these rights and values are under attack around the world. Freedoms are being eroded. Civic space is diminishing. Polarization is intensifying. And mistrust is growing.
“This year’s Democracy Day focuses on Artificial Intelligence as a tool for good governance.
“Left unchecked, the dangers posed by artificial intelligence could have serious implications for democracy, peace, and stability. This can start with the proliferation of mis- and disinformation, the spread of hate speech and the use of so-called deepfakes.
“Yet, AI has the potential to promote and enhance full and active public participation, equality, security, and human development. It can boost education on democratic processes, and shape more inclusive civic spaces where people have a say in decisions and can hold decision-makers to account.
“To seize these opportunities, it is critical to ensure effective governance of AI at all levels, including internationally.
“The inclusive and geographically diverse High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence has released a report with recommendations on how to harness the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks.
“The message is clear: AI must serve humanity equitably and safely.
“This month’s Summit of the Future offers a crucial opportunity to strengthen international cooperation, build trust, and safeguard current and future generations.
“On this International Day of Democracy, let’s keep working to build a more inclusive, just, and equal world.”
Ensuring effective governance of AI at all levels: This year’s theme for the International Day of Democracy is focused on the importance of Artificial Intelligence as a tool for good governance.
In his message for the observance, Secretary-General António Guterres notes that AI has the potential to enhance public participation, equality, security, and human development but warns that if “left unchecked” its dangers “could have serious implications for democracy, peace, and stability”.
Effective governance of AI at all levels, including internationally, is crucial, states the Secretary-General recalling that the High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence recently released a report “with recommendations on harnessing AI benefits while mitigating risks”.
Recommendations: AI tools must be available for everyone
The report identifies the following principles that should guide the formation of new global AI governance institutions:
Inclusivity: all citizens, including those in the Global South, should be able to access and meaningfully use AI tools.
Public interest: governance should go beyond the do-no-harm principle and define a broader accountability framework for companies that build, deploy and control AI, as well as downstream users.
Centrality of data governance: AI governance cannot be divorced from the governance of data and the promotion of data commons.
Universal, networked and multistakeholder: AI governance should prioritize universal buy-in by countries and stakeholders. It should leverage existing institutions through a networked approach.
International Law: AI governance needs to be anchored in the UN Charter,International Human Rights Law, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Analyzing the impact of AI in democracies
Similarly, UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence is the first global policy framework for AI, focusing on its impact on political life and democracy. The report delves into the current and potential impact of AI on democracy and the benefits of digitalization for collective decision-making
Organized around four key themes – democratic expectations and disappointments of digitization, the new digital public sphere, the democracy of data, and democracy as a form of political decision-making – it offers recommendations for the democratic governance of artificial intelligence to mitigate negative impacts and promote a more democratic approach to AI governance.
Background:
The International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. Democracy is as much a process as a goal, and only with the full participation of and support by the international community, national governing bodies, civil society and individuals, can the ideal of democracy be made into a reality to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But around the world, there are governments and those wielding power who find many ways to obstruct it. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”
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