ELA-IA at the 2024 World Summit on the Information Society |
At the WSIS+20 Forum held in Geneva from May 27 to 31, ELA-IA presented "Ethical and Social Challenges in the Algorithmic Fabric - An Anthropological Perspective" within the action line Ethical Dimensions of the Information Society. Twenty years after the first WSIS summit, we face the sobering question: has the technological revolution truly emancipated the Information Society, or has it, too, been shaped by the same old forces of domination?
Technology is a manifestation of social behaviors and systems of meaning—profoundly tied to our freedom, or lack thereof.
In a world mediated by algorithms, the choices made by a few have profound consequences for the many. To speak of algorithms is to speak of power. As with all forms of power, there is no neutrality. And so, it is not simply a matter of how we design technology, but for whom, and to what end. We must ask: Who writes the algorithms? Who decides what is just, what is fair?
The Call for Digital Hermeneutic Justice
How can we talk of freedom if we cannot even understand the systems that bind us? This is the crisis of our time—the opacity of algorithms, the invisibility of their processes, which alienates us from the very forces that shape our lives, leaving us in a state of helplessness.
ELA-IA is developing the concept of Digital Hermeneutic Justice, a crucial critique of our current reality. In the digital age, we are left with systems that render us passive subjects rather than active participants in our own existence. Digital Hermeneutic Justice is the call to reclaim our agency, to demand transparency from the systems that govern us, and to arm ourselves with the knowledge needed to understand their impact.
At the WSIS+20, ELA-IA offered four proposals that seek to transform this current condition—each one an attempt to dismantle the alienation caused by opaque technologies and reorient AI toward the common good. Let's continue the conversation and form working groups of interested stakeholders to develop each one of them. Click below on the proposal(s) of your interest and join us in the mission of weaving ethics and responsibility into the AI era.
Collective Interpretation Resources
Quality Seal of Ethical AI
The main goal of this proposal is to create a certification process that can evaluate and measure the ethical and social impacts of AI systems.
The Quality Seal will serve as a guiding tool at each stage of an algorithm's life cycle, such as during development, design, deployment, and operation. These stages will address different actors involved in the algorithmic fabric.
We propose the formation of a global coalition to put this measure into action and steer AI systems towards promoting the common good. We invite others to join us in this endeavor.
Comprehensive Digital Literacy and Ethics Program
Here, ELA-IA takes a dual approach—first, to educate the creators of these systems to recognize their ethical responsibility beyond technical expertise, and second, to empower users and public officials with the cognitive tools to understand the forces shaping their digital existence. Only then can we speak of a true citizenship in the digital age.
Engage in these literacy programs and foster a culture where the digital world is not a mystery but a shared, comprehensible reality.
Algorithmic Interpretation Resources
Much like the information leaflets distributed with pharmaceutical products, ELA-IA proposes a system of clear, accessible resources that explain how algorithms function, their risks, and their limitations. This will enable users to better understand the technologies that affect them and advocate for their rights.
Demand greater transparency in AI systems and support initiatives that make algorithmic processes comprehensible to all.
Global South Network Ethics for All
ELA-IA is committed to building an inclusive digital future that recognizes and addresses the unique challenges faced by the Global South. This network will bring together researchers, policymakers, and activists to develop ethical AI guidelines tailored to the needs and realities of these regions.
Participate in the creation of this network, ensuring that the voices of the Global South are central to shaping the future of AI ethics.