La découvrabilité des contenus numérique: un facteur de diversité culturelle et de développement (Délégation Wallonie-Bruxelles, Belgian Mission to the UN in Geneva)

Arguments

TV5plus, a francophone platform aims at increasing discoverability of francophone content

Supporting facts:

• TV5 plus was launched in 2010 and contains audiovisual content from Canada, France, and other European countries and African countries

Topics: TV5plus, Francophone Content, Media platform

David Gueye is able to connect and promote the TV5plus as a viable Francophone Netflix

Topics: Netflix, TV5plus, David Gueye, Francophone Content

Report

TV5plus, a francophone platform, was launched in 2010 with the aim of increasing the discoverability of francophone content. This platform offers a diverse range of audiovisual content from Canada, France, other European countries, and African countries, ensuring a rich viewing experience for users.

One of the main strengths of TV5plus is its positive sentiment, reflected in its goal to evoke more emotion and reveal captivating stories for viewers. The platform’s advertising campaign emphasizes the promise of “more emotion” and “more revelation,” showcasing its dedication to providing compelling and immersive content.

TV5plus also benefits from the support and promotion of David Gueye, who connects and promotes the platform as a viable Francophone alternative to Netflix. Gueye’s influence and connections help raise awareness of TV5plus and its unique offering of francophone content, giving it a competitive edge.

In conclusion, TV5plus is a francophone platform that has successfully established itself as a hub for diverse and engaging francophone content. Its extensive collection of audiovisual material, commitment to evoking emotion and revealing narratives, and the support of individuals like David Gueye contribute to its growing popularity.

For viewers seeking captivating francophone content, TV5plus presents itself as an attractive alternative to mainstream streaming platforms.

Arguments

The situation of language and opinion accessibility is worse than depicted

Supporting facts:

• Limited content can reach the public

• Majority of languages are kept out of access

Topics: Accessibility, Content Dissemination

The rise of artificial intelligence poses potential threats to content accessibility and diversity

Supporting facts:

• AI usage may lead to further marginalization of certain content and opinions

• Artificial intelligence is at a critical crossroads

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Content Dissemination

The speaker understands the troubles the music industries face due to the same experience with MP3

Supporting facts:

• Speaker was a musician and actor

• Met the person who invented MP3

Topics: Music Industry, Digital Revolution

Francophone content is underrepresented on major platforms despite a significant number of French-speaking people.

Supporting facts:

• Francophones counts 300 million but only have 4 to 5% of internet content

• Major platforms like TikTok, YouTube have very little content in French

Topics: Internet content, Francophone, Digital media

Developing countries have diverse generations of professionals with different digital maturities and cultural content appetites.

Supporting facts:

• There are about five generations of professionals converging in developing countries

Topics: Developing countries, Digital maturity, Cultural content

Lack of African presence in statistical data and discoverability

Supporting facts:

• The speaker is the Chief of Digital Transformation in a bank from Congo-Brazzaville

• The speaker notes the absence of an African presence in statistical data and discoverability metrics

Topics: Digital Transformation, Diversity, African Content

New trends emerging from Africa mixing local languages and culture

Supporting facts:

• Musicians are mixing French with local and cultural languages creating a new trend in music

• The speaker uses music as an example to illustrate the point

Topics: Culture, Music, African Content

Improving the promotion and understanding of IT in the digital world

Topics: Digital literacy, IT Education

Report

The speakers in the discussion tackled various crucial issues concerning language and content accessibility in the digital world. They brought attention to the limited reach of content to the public and the exclusion of the majority of languages. It was noted that a significant amount of content fails to reach the public due to various reasons, resulting in restricted access to information and ideas.

Additionally, it was highlighted that many languages are kept out of access, further exacerbating the problem of limited content availability and hindering inclusivity. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) was identified as a potential threat to content diversity and accessibility.

The use of AI in content dissemination can lead to further marginalisation of certain content and opinions. This poses a concern as it can contribute to the homogenisation of ideas and perspectives, leading to a lack of diversity and inclusivity in the digital sphere.

The speakers emphasised the need for responsible and transparent implementation of AI to ensure fair content access and prevent further inequalities. The discussion also addressed the underrepresentation of Francophone content on major platforms, despite a significant number of French-speaking individuals.

It was highlighted that Francophone content constitutes a small percentage of internet content, and platforms such as TikTok and YouTube have very little content available in French. This underrepresentation limits access to information and cultural expression for French-speaking individuals, perpetuating inequalities in the digital space.

The importance of prioritising and enhancing the visibility and accessibility of data was underscored during the discussion. It was suggested that intervention is needed to bring data from the back shop to the front window for better visibility. This approach would allow for a more comprehensive understanding of different perspectives and facilitate improved access to information.

In the context of developing countries, the speakers noted that there are diverse generations of professionals with varying levels of digital maturity and cultural content preferences. This observation highlights the need for tailored strategies and approaches to address the specific needs and interests of different groups within developing countries.

It was emphasised that a one-size-fits-all approach is not suitable in these contexts. The discussion also focused on the absence of an African presence in statistical data and discoverability metrics. This lack of representation hinders the recognition and visibility of African content and limits its reach to broader audiences.

However, the speakers also celebrated emerging trends from Africa, such as the mixing of local languages and culture in music. These trends showcase the richness and diversity of African culture and highlight the potential for unique and innovative content creation.

Lastly, improving the promotion and understanding of IT in the digital world was identified as an area for improvement. It was suggested that enhancing digital literacy and IT education can contribute to bridging the digital divide and improving accessibility to digital resources.

In conclusion, the discussion drew attention to several significant issues regarding language and content accessibility in the digital world. The speakers addressed the limited reach of content, the underrepresentation of various languages, the potential threats posed by artificial intelligence, and the need for responsible implementation.

They also highlighted the importance of prioritising data visibility, considering the specific needs of different groups, and addressing the absence of African presence in statistical data. The promotion and understanding of IT were identified as key areas for improvement in fostering inclusivity and access to digital resources.

Arguments

Discoverability of francophone content has been part of TV5 Monde’s objective

Supporting facts:

• TV5 Monde’s objective has always been to broadcast francophone content internationally

Topics: Francophone content, TV5 Monde, Content discoverability

The digital world presents new challenges and hegemony of anglo-saxon platforms

Supporting facts:

• The majority of the market is owned by Netflix, Amazon, Disney and perhaps Paramount

Topics: Digital world, Diversity

The issue of discoverability is not only about preserving cultural diversity but also about development

Supporting facts:

• Accessing and promoting global south content can help producers and artists make a living

Topics: Content discoverability, Cultural diversity, Development

Promoting diversity and content from Global South countries is crucial

Supporting facts:

• Netflix can access and promote high quality productions from Anglophone Africa but not Francophone Africa

Topics: Cultural diversity, Global south, Content production

The mandate for TV5 plus platform came from governments and donors at the Francophonie Summit held in Harrigan with the goal to become the Francophone Netflix

Supporting facts:

• The platform was launched in 2010

• It contains content from Canada, France, other European countries and African countries

Topics: TV5 plus platform, Francophonie Summit, Francophone Netflix

TV5 plus platform promotes cultural diversity and values content from all Francophone regions.

Supporting facts:

• The platform offers a variety of content from across the Francophone world.

• Editorial strategy pushes forward equitably distributed content.

Topics: TV5 plus, cultural diversity, Francophone

TV5 plus has plans to improve the platform’s accessibility to make it accessible for people with disabilities.

Supporting facts:

• In 2024, the platform intends to focus on improving accessibility for disabled individuals.

Topics: TV5 plus, accessibility, disabilities

Investment in platforms where there are people, including paid ones

Supporting facts:

• They are compelled to promote content on platforms like TikTok, Google, Facebook etc because these are the platforms where the audience is

Topics: Digital Marketing, Social Media

Francophonie should not just be limited to French content

Supporting facts:

• They consider that having francophone content that can be mixed with local languages

• They believe in promoting francophonie as a plural concept, not limited to French language only

Topics: Multilingualism, Diversity, Inclusion

Report

TV5 Monde has always had the objective of international broadcasting of francophone content, and making such content discoverable is a key focus for the network. However, the digital world presents new challenges, with dominant platforms such as Netflix and Amazon leading to the potential hegemony of Anglo-Saxon platforms.

This dominance by a few major players may limit the discoverability of diverse content. Accessing and promoting content from the global South is not just about preserving cultural diversity but also about fostering economic growth. Producers and artists from these regions can make a living if their content is more accessible and promoted internationally.

Currently, Netflix has the ability to showcase high-quality content from Anglophone Africa but not from Francophone Africa, highlighting the importance of promoting diversity and content from Global South countries. David Gueye emphasises the significance of content discoverability, particularly from Francophone African countries, in facilitating further development.

One notable issue in these regions is the difficulty of organising film production in areas where electricity is not readily available. Improving the discoverability of their content would provide opportunities for both artistic growth and economic progress. To address these challenges and promote francophone content, the TV5 plus platform was launched in 2010.

Its aim is to become the Francophone equivalent of Netflix, offering a wide range of content from Canada, France, Europe, and various African countries. The platform’s editorial strategy is focused on equitably distributing content from all Francophone regions, thereby championing cultural diversity.

However, the TV5 plus platform also faces competition and struggles to improve its notoriety and discoverability. While the content is well-referenced in Google search results, more research and efforts need to be directed towards making the content easily discoverable to the target audience.

Additionally, there are external factors beyond the platform’s control that impact discoverability. In terms of accessibility, TV5 plus plans to improve its platform by 2024 to ensure it is accessible for people with disabilities. This commitment to inclusivity reflects their belief in promoting multilingualism and diversity within the francophone world.

They advocate for a broader understanding of francophonie that accommodates not only the French language but also other local languages. Investing in platforms where the audience is, such as TikTok, Google, and Facebook, is deemed essential for effective content promotion.

To reach a wider audience and increase discoverability, it is important to utilize these popular platforms. In conclusion, TV5 Monde and the TV5 plus platform have been dedicated to broadcasting and promoting francophone content internationally. They recognize the challenges posed by the dominance of Anglo-Saxon platforms in the digital world and the need to improve the discoverability of diverse content.

By showcasing content from the global South and ensuring accessibility, they not only promote cultural diversity but also contribute to economic growth. The TV5 plus platform’s objective is to become a Francophone equivalent of Netflix, underscoring the importance of inclusive and equitable content distribution.

However, efforts are necessary to enhance the discoverability and notoriety of the platform to fully realize its potential.

Arguments

Discoverability refers to the online availability of content and its ability to be seen by a vast audience

Supporting facts:

• The Quebec office for the French language in 2016 has defined it as the potential of the content to be discovered

Topics: Discoverability, Content, Online Availability

Discoverability is related to the issue of the primacy of English content online and a trend towards linguistic uniformization

Supporting facts:

• There is a concern about the lack of diversity in what is being consumed online due to the dominance of English content

Topics: Linguistic Uniformization, English Dominance, Content Diversity

The exponential increase in available online content is not reflected in the diversity of what is being consumed

Supporting facts:

• The issue is not so much the availability of diverse content, but the mechanisms and processes that do not allow for equal access to this diversity

Topics: Online Content, Content Diversity, Consumption Patterns

The existence of numerous digital distribution spaces does not necessarily mean access to diverse content

Supporting facts:

• In 2018-2020 study, diversity was asked to predate access to information for content

• Francophone content remained embryonic in comparison to other languages in terms of proportion of recommended content online

• On the world’s 10 million most visited websites, only 3% offer content in French compared to 60% in English.

Topics: Content Discoverability, Digital Distribution, Internet

Only 1% of a standard catalog of on-demand video is based on strategy or promotion strategy

Supporting facts:

• Only 1% of a typical on-demand video catalog utilizes strategy, promotion strategy, or value strategy

Topics: Video On-demand, Promotion Strategy

There is a lack of Francophone and non-English, non-Francophone minority content

Supporting facts:

• Out of the 1% of strategically promoted content, there is very limited Francophone content and other non-English, non-Francophone minority content

Topics: Francophone Content, Diversity in Content, On-demand Video

Users should have the power to discover and explore the majority of the content available on the catalog

Supporting facts:

• Presents the idea of users being able to ignore platform biases and explore 90% of the content catalog that is not typically recommended

Topics: User Empowerment, Content Discovery, On-demand Video

Current research proposal aims to test a new model on TV5 that allows users to create their own discoverability pathway

Supporting facts:

• New research proposal titled ‘Discover Otherwise’ aims to test a model of content discoverability on TV5 where end users have more control

Topics: TV5, User Empowerment, Research Proposal

The necessity to make artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms more explainable to regulate the ‘black box’

Supporting facts:

• AI and automated translations currently suffer from opacity

• The future of linguistic diversity depends on the ability to use technology for diverse contents, formats and supports

• Some institutions and international businesses are already compelling accountability and responsibility in AI usage

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Algorithm Transparency, Digital Literacy

Importance of considering diverse opinions amid prevailing opinion polarization

Topics: Diversity, Opinions

Automatic learning comprises more data in English versus other languages, resulting in disproportionate research findings

Topics: Automatic Learning, Language Diversity

Report

Discoverability refers to the online availability of content and its ability to reach a wide audience. However, there is growing concern about the lack of diversity in the content being consumed online, primarily due to the dominance of English content.

This issue highlights the need for improving the mechanisms and processes that hinder equal access to diverse content. Algorithms play a crucial role in determining the visibility of content based on individual preferences, taste, or habits. They grant value to the content and recommend it as relevant or not, which can contribute to the lack of diversity in the content being consumed.

This has implications for linguistic uniformisation, as the online landscape becomes skewed towards English content, marginalising other languages. Access to diverse content is limited, particularly for Francophone and non-English, non-Francophone minority content. A study found that on the world’s 10 million most visited websites, only 3% offered content in French, compared to 60% in English.

This lack of representation underscores the need for political action and regulatory frameworks to promote the discoverability and accessibility of Francophone content. This may involve adapting the regulatory framework to include quotas for national content on platforms like Netflix and advocating for the discovery of local content through diplomatic and influential channels.

The limited discoverability of Francophone and non-English, non-Francophone minority content is also reflected in the limited strategic promotion of such content in on-demand video catalogs. Only 1% of a typical on-demand video catalog is based on strategy or promotion, further perpetuating the lack of diversity in consumed content.

To address these challenges, it is important to empower users to discover and explore the majority of the content available in catalogs. Users should have the power to overcome platform biases and access the 90% of content that is typically not recommended to them.

A research proposal titled “Discover Otherwise” aims to test a new model on TV5 that allows end users to create their own discoverability pathways. This would enhance user empowerment and ensure a more diverse range of content is accessible. Additionally, there is a need for greater transparency and explainability in artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithms.

Currently, AI and automated translations suffer from opacity, and there is a growing demand for accountability and responsibility in their usage. AI and algorithm literacy become crucial for both the general public and policymakers to understand the potential impact and abuses of these technologies.

Language diversity is also a significant concern in the field of automatic learning. There is a disproportionate focus on English data, leading to biased research findings and limiting the construction of diverse knowledge. Advocating for greater language diversity in automatic learning can help overcome these limitations and promote a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of various languages and cultures.

In conclusion, discoverability plays a crucial role in ensuring equal access to diverse content online. The dominance of English content and the lack of representation for non-English, non-Francophone minority content are pressing issues that need to be addressed. Political action, regulatory frameworks, user empowerment, and promoting language diversity are key strategies in achieving a more diverse and inclusive online landscape.

Transparency and literacy in AI and algorithms also play a crucial role in promoting accountable and responsible usage.

Arguments

Discoverability is an underexplored and fundamental issue in the digital age

Supporting facts:

• Discoverability is defined as the capacity of content to be found

• Discoverability has political stakes as certain content may be prioritised or hidden by operators

• An example of discoverability issue would be relevant local content hidden by international platforms

Topics: discoverability, digital age, content creation, content accessibility

Discoverability has implications for digital exclusion and language accessibility

Supporting facts:

• Digital exclusion may occur when certain content is not discovered as readily as others

• Language accessibility is impacted by the discoverability of content produced in certain languages

Topics: discoverability, digital exclusion, language accessibility

Less than 6% of all languages are virtually represented on the internet

Supporting facts:

• Only 400 languages out of 7000 have web presence

Topics: Cultural diversity, Multilingualism, Language representation

There’s a disproportionate power game in the digital content market

Supporting facts:

• 90% of the value-added of digital content is held by three countries, 67% by the USA, more than 20% by China and the rest of the world is sharing the remainder

• There are very few platforms that do concentrate the maximum value

Topics: Digital content market, Global digital compact

Report

Discoverability is an often overlooked yet crucial issue in the digital age. It refers to the ability of content to be found by users. However, concerns arise regarding how certain content may be prioritised or hidden by operators, leading to political implications.

For instance, relevant local content might be concealed by international platforms, resulting in limited discoverability. This disparity in access and visibility of different types of content calls for better understanding and regulation of discoverability in the digital sector. Currently, only a select number of individuals fully comprehend the complexities of discoverability, creating conflicts between local and international content.

To ensure fair practices, it is important to prioritise diverse, high-quality content, regardless of its origin. Additionally, discoverability affects digital exclusion and language accessibility. When specific content is not easily discovered, it can lead to digital exclusion, preventing certain individuals or communities from accessing or engaging with it.

Furthermore, language accessibility is impacted when content in certain languages is less discoverable. This raises concerns about the representation of lesser-known languages on the internet, as only 400 out of 7,000 languages have a web presence. This lack of language representation hinders cultural diversity and the preservation of different languages and cultures.

Moreover, the digital content market exhibits a disproportionate concentration of power. The majority of the value-added in this market is held by a few countries, mainly the USA and China, while the rest of the world shares the remainder. This concentration raises concerns about fairness and equal opportunities for content creators and consumers globally.

To address these issues, there is a call for regulations and rules in the design and development of global digital content. The suggestion of a global digital compact has been made to establish guidelines and standards that promote fairness and equitable access.

This will create an equal playing field, allowing diverse voices to be heard and ensuring meaningful representation of different cultures and languages online. In conclusion, discoverability is a crucial issue that needs further attention. It affects political stakes, digital exclusion, language accessibility, cultural diversity, and the digital content market.

To create a fair and inclusive digital environment, understanding, regulation, and rules for discoverability are essential. Promoting diverse, high-quality content, equal language representation, and a balanced distribution of power in the global digital content market are integral to this process.

Arguments

Discoverability allows content in languages other than English to also be discovered and promoted.

Supporting facts:

• Language is also a perspective of the world.

• If we have knowledge only in English, we will arrive at visions of the world that will be uniform.

• Without discoverability, non-English cultural and creative industries will not be consumed and thus find it difficult to survive.

Topics: Discoverability, Cultural Diversity, Digital Access

To promote discoverability, there needs to be support for content production in other languages and addressing the digital divide.

Supporting facts:

• Technologies are needed to support discoverability.

• Support for local cultural production and creative industry is vital.

• If there’s no internet access, one cannot access Francophone content.

Topics: Content Production, Digital Divide, Cultural Diversity

Local production of cultural content being supported by Federation Wallonie-Brussels via grants towards cultural and creative industry and via co-productions

Supporting facts:

• The Federation, while in Brussels, is active in granting support to cinematographic, musical, and cultural production

Topics: Cultural Diversity, Digital Content Regulation, Creative Industry Support

Federation Wallonie-Brussels is not acting alone, they follow rules and regulations at the EU level

Supporting facts:

• There are legislations in the EU framework

• Federation Wallonie-Brussels has taken advantage of EU’s levearage to impose rules on existing platforms

Topics: International Cooperation, EU Regulations

Small players in the international territory need international solidarity and cooperation

Supporting facts:

• Federation Wallonie-Brussels is known for encouraging co-productions with Switzerland, France, Canada

Topics: Co-production, Cultural Diversity

Investing in promoting content in minority languages on platforms like Spotify can value diversity.

Supporting facts:

• Valony-Brussels Federation creates playlists that give value to the people of Brussels, featuring music in various languages, not just French.

Topics: Diversity, Music Industry, Minority Languages

Translation tools can be an aid in multilingual content, making it more accessible and discoverable for minor languages.

Supporting facts:

• Simultaneous translation of some content, if well used, can boost the discoverability of minor languages content.

Topics: Translation, Multilingualism, Language Preservation

Report

The analysis of the speakers’ viewpoints emphasized the crucial role of discoverability in promoting content in languages other than English. They argued that if knowledge is limited to just English, it will lead to a uniform and narrow worldview. Without discoverability, non-English cultural and creative industries will struggle to survive.

To address this issue, support for content production in other languages and bridging the digital divide is essential. The Federation Wallonie-Brussels was mentioned as an example of an organization that supports local cultural production. Through grants and co-productions, they actively encourage and promote the creation of cultural content.

They also take advantage of EU regulations to enforce rules on existing platforms. Furthermore, they foster international solidarity and cooperation by facilitating co-productions with countries like Switzerland, France, and Canada. The speakers highlighted the significant impact that platforms have in contributing to local cultural production.

They noted that the Federation Wallonie-Brussels has imposed a 2.2% rate on non-linear platforms broadcasting in their territory, which contributes to the creation of local content. There are plans to increase this rate in the future. Additionally, the use of human editors plays a significant role in shaping the produced content.

User accessibility of content was another topic of discussion. The RTBF and other organizations collaborate to develop algorithms that enhance content discoverability. They are also planning to create a user-specific unique code to offer a personalized experience to users. Promoting content in minority languages on platforms like Spotify was cited as a means of valuing diversity.

The Federation Wallonie-Brussels creates playlists that highlight music in various languages, not just French, thus celebrating linguistic diversity. Translation tools were also mentioned as aids in making multilingual content more accessible and discoverable. It was suggested that well-utilized simultaneous translation of content could boost the discoverability of minor languages.

The overall sentiment of the speakers was positive, expressing optimism about leveraging technology and promoting cultural diversity. They recognized the importance of discoverability in fostering economic development, cultural diversity, and the survival of diversity as a whole. The analysis revealed a focus on the role of language, the need for international cooperation, and the potential of technology to bridge gaps and ensure equitable access to cultural content.

Arguments

AI generated content is not controlled by humans and carries risk of plagiarism, confidentiality and bias

Supporting facts:

• ChatGBT’s user base grew from 100 million to 104 million in a few months

• ChatGBT is used a billion times per week

• AI lacks transparency and explicability

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Data Privacy, Algorithmic Bias

Use of AI can lead to propagation of harmful and discriminatory content

Supporting facts:

• AI often reproduces the biases present in its training data

• Generative AI can spread misinformation, racism, and hate messages

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Discrimination, Hate Speech

Only 400 out of 7000 languages are on the internet

Supporting facts:

• According to UNESCO’s global atlas, there are only 400 languages on the internet out of 7000.

Topics: Internet, Languages

UNESCO is committed on promoting content and diverse content in cyberspace

Supporting facts:

• UNESCO’s program, Information for All, aims at constructing inclusive and sustainable societies of knowledge

• The goal is to enable universal access to trustable information and diversified content as a catalyst for human rights, peace, and sustainable development

Topics: UNESCO, Internet, Content Diversity

UNESCO’s Information for All program focuses on six sectors

Supporting facts:

• The six sectors are: information at the service for development, information literacy, preservation of information, info ethics, access to information and multilingualism

• The program offers a international platform for political dialogue and cooperation

Topics: UNESCO, Information for All Program, Multilingualism

UNESCO’s program works to reduce digital gaps and promote multilingualism

Supporting facts:

• Tackling the principles of multilingualism in the National Development Plans and promoting universal access to information are key objectives

• The program works on preserving the documentary patrimony that exists in indigenous languages

Topics: UNESCO, Digital Gap, Multilingualism

UNESCO has sustained several national-level projects to reinforce capacity

Supporting facts:

• In Jamaica, UNESCO supported the radio station broadcasting in indigenous language Abang

• The program also contributed to the improvement and preservation of documentary preservation of the local Maroon language

Topics: UNESCO, National Projects, Capacity Building

The issue of black box in AI is not just technical but also a policy issue

Supporting facts:

• The problem is likened to media and digital platforms requiring transparency

• UNESCO promotes transparency of AI algorithms

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Policy

AI regulations on business enterprises should be in place and their codes must be open

Supporting facts:

• Regulations could potentially help businesses

• Regulations could address issue of discoverability

Topics: AI Regulation, Business Enterprises

The concentration of digital platforms poses a problem

Supporting facts:

• Five digital platforms dominate the world and are held by two countries

• Traditional media and channels had similar problems

Topics: Digital Platforms, Anti-monopoly Principles

There is a need for the implementation of existing ethical principles on a global scale

Supporting facts:

• UNESCO already has a consensus on the ethical values

• Implementation through laws, national policy, legislation

Topics: Ethical Principles, AI Regulations

Innovation and regulation are not contradictory.

Supporting facts:

• We need a very good, efficient, ethical regulation to ensure the innovation are being driven in a good direction to lead to the humanity development.

Topics: technology regulation, innovation

Bad regulations can destroy the potential of innovation.

Supporting facts:

• Bad regulations are very much focused on the commercialization, monetization of the technology and they destroy the innovation’s value.

Topics: technology regulation, innovation

A policy process must involve all stakeholders for inclusive growth

Supporting facts:

• Xianhong Hu emphasized on the involvement of all actors and government, academia, private sector in policy process.

Topics: Policy making, Inclusive growth, Multi-stakeholder participation

Report

The analysis provided information on various arguments related to artificial intelligence (AI), internet languages, and the role of UNESCO in promoting content diversity and multilingualism. One of the concerns raised was the potential risks associated with AI-generated content, such as plagiarism, confidentiality issues, and bias.

It was emphasized that AI lacks transparency and explicability, which could lead to these risks. Furthermore, AI was seen as a source of harmful and discriminatory content. There is a growing concern that AI often reproduces the biases present in its training data, which can perpetuate misinformation, racism, and hate speech.

To address these issues, there was a call for multilateral regulation of the AI industry, as self-regulation was considered insufficient. The concentration of digital platforms and the AI industry was also highlighted as a concern because it can centralize wealth and limit the potential of AI in benefiting diverse communities.

It was suggested that regulations should be put in place to ensure transparency and openness in AI algorithms. Additionally, it was pointed out that AI regulations on business enterprises should be established, with their codes being open to scrutiny. The analysis also shed light on the limited representation of languages on the internet.

Only 400 out of 7000 languages were reported to be present online according to UNESCO’s global atlas. This raises concerns about the digital divide and the potential exclusion of certain language communities from online spaces. Amidst these challenges, UNESCO was recognized for its positive efforts in promoting content diversity and multilingualism.

UNESCO’s Information for All programme aims to construct inclusive and sustainable societies of knowledge, providing universal access to trustworthy information and diversified content to catalyze human rights, peace, and sustainable development. They focus on six sectors, including information for development, information literacy, preservation of information, info ethics, access to information, and multilingualism.

UNESCO’s work includes reducing digital gaps, preserving indigenous languages, reinforcing capacity through national projects, and contributing to the improvement and preservation of local languages. The analysis also highlighted the importance of implementing ethical principles and existing consensuses on a global scale.

UNESCO’s commitment to transparency and promoting ethical values in AI was lauded. It was noted that innovation and regulation are not contradictory; instead, efficient and ethical regulations must be in place to guide innovation towards benefiting humanity. On the other hand, it was warned that bad regulations focusing solely on commercialization and monetization can undermine the value of innovation.

In terms of policy-making, inclusive growth and multi-stakeholder participation were championed. It was emphasized that all actors, including the government, academia, and the private sector, must be involved in the policy process to ensure inclusive growth. Additionally, it was argued that every individual, not just the government, bears responsibility in policy-making, highlighting the need for commitment from all stakeholders.

In conclusion, the analysis provided insight into various arguments and concerns surrounding AI, internet languages, and UNESCO’s role in promoting content diversity and multilingualism. From the risks associated with AI-generated content to the need for multilateral regulation and inclusive policy-making, the analysis highlighted the importance of transparency, ethical principles, and addressing digital gaps.

The role of UNESCO in driving positive change and promoting diverse knowledge societies was acknowledged.