Slovakian president calls for democratic regulation of social media and AI | UNGA78

Challenges such as armed conflicts, climate change and new technologies are human-made, and require human-made solutions, stated Slovakian president Zuzana Čaputová in her address at the UNGA 78. She noted that new technologies promise to unlock huge potential in areas such as public health, connectivity or addressing climate change. Čaputová also underlined that fast technological progress must be aligned with the protection of human dignity, freedom, justice, or the rule of law.

The rapid expansion of social media has brought people together globally but also exposed them to disinformation and hate speech. While technology connects us, it can also harm individual rights and dignity. To prevent social media and emerging technologies such as AI from exacerbating crises, we must regulate it democratically without delay, Čaputová stated.