Two Day Online International Conference
on

Accelerating Actions and Promoting Digital Wellness (DW) in the context of Artificial Intelligence(AI)

organized by

India Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics (ICEIE),
Centre for Digital Learning, Training and Resources (CDLTR), University of Hyderabad (India)
Information Ethics Network @ Future Africa, University of Pretoria (South Africa)
Russian National IFAP Committee, Interregional Library Cooperation Centre (Russian Federation)
International Center for Information Ethics (ICIE)
UNESCO Chair on Language Policies for Multilingualism, Federal University of Santa Catarina (Brazil)
Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, Dept. of Education (New Delhi)

under the Auspices of
UNESCO Intergovernmental Information for All Programme (IFAP)

supported by


Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)

March 24-25, 2021

UPDATES

 

The Context

The use of online technologies to spread misinformation through various social media networks, cyberfraud, cyberbullying, etc., continue to be matters of concern. Similarly, the spread of fake news through social networking sites is another major challenge. The malicious use of artificial intelligence (MUAI) is acquiring great importance in the targeted psychological destabilisation of political, social and economic systems, and systems of international relations. Targeted psychological operations driven by artificial intelligence (AI) are a fact of current reality and will be much more prominent in the near future. In this regard, the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) (including those with AI embedded in them), social media networking sites has also come under question. Hence, there is a need to frame policy/regulatory frameworks, capacity issues (institutional/skills), etc., to help identify priorities for our countries/regions that can lead to interventions/projects.

These challenges lead one to question the efficacy of emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence and the resultant ethical implications. What can one do in order to help citizens reap the benefits of such technologies whilst protecting their rights to privacy and access to information?

University of Hyderabad India Centre for Information Ethics entered into a consortium with the African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics (ACEIE) and the International Centre for Information Ethics (ICIE) to design online, open-access information ethics courses. Since then the collaboration has extended globally with a number of active parties contributing to research, engagements and publications on Information Ethics, Digital Wellness, AI4IA and other related priority areas of IFAP.

 

Conference Themes

The proposed 2-day International Conference on Accelerating Actions and Promoting Digital Wellness (DW) in the context of Artificial Intelligence(AI),  is a follow-up to the Khanty-Mansiysk (Russian Federation), Cape Town (South African Republic), Hyderabad (India) and AI4IA (Jamaica) conferences. This proposed conference invites papers related to the below mentioned themes based on the experiences from different countries by bringing together experts in the field:

  1. Biases and threats to human dignity in AI systems
  2. Ethical implications of AI
  3. Malicious use of AI as a threat to the psychological security
  4. Community Empowerment & Information Ethics
  5. Promoting awareness of and developing tools for Digital Wellness
  6. Approaches in Multi-Lingual Media and Information Literacy and Digital Literacy towards empowering communities to responsibly use emerging technologies

The above themes may be addressed in relation to the following three SDGs with expected outcomes:

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all by 2030 to:

  • substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship;
  • ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy;
  • ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of cultures contribution to sustainable development.

Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels to:

  • Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms in accordance with national legislations and international agreements; and
  • Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation for capacity building at all levels, in particular, developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

Goal 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development by

  • Enhancing North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the UN level and through a global technology facilitation mechanism.

The University of Hyderabad is already part of an International Consortium on Information Ethics, and has launched a Digital Wellness campaign. Together with its close relationship with the partners, this event will ensure active global participation with useful outcomes.

Organising Committee of the Conference:

  • Prabhakar Rao Jandhyala, Director, India Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics, Centre for Applied Linguistics and Translation Studies (CALTS), University of Hyderabad, India – Chairperson of the Conference;
  • Dorothy Gordon, Chair of the UNESCO IFAP Intergovernmental Council, Ghana;
  • Evgeny Kuzmin, Vice-Chair of the IFAP Intergovernmental Council, Chair of the UNESCO IFAP Working Group on Multilingualism in Cyberspace, Chair of the Russian National IFAP Committee, President of the Interregional Library Cooperation Centre, Russian Federation;
  • Coetzee Bester, Director African Centre of Excellence for Information Ethics (ACEIE), University of Pretoria, South Africa;
  • Gilvan Muller de Oliveira, Professor, Federal University of Santa Catarina & Head, UNESCO Chair on Language Policies for Multilingualism, Brazil;
  • Siva Prasad Rambhatla, Formerly Professor of Anthropology, Honorary Professor, Centre for Digital Learning, Training and Resources (CDLTR), University of Hyderabad, India;
  • Vasuki Belavadi, Director, Centre for Digital Learning, Training and Resources (CDLTR), University of Hyderabad, India;
  • Rachel Fischer, Co-Chair International Centre for Information Ethics, South Africa.

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