There are two letters which dominate national conversations at the moment. AI. What is it, what can it do now, what will it be able to do and what does that mean for society and how will it affect people’s real lives? Both for good and ill. Everyone has a different view and our national governments have yet to negotiate an agreed, global ethical and industrial standard.
Obviously for Index our concerns focus solely on the potential impact of AI on speech and freedom of expression. Algorithms can amplify speech or de-list speech. No one yet knows what the impact of AI will be on speech but we fear how tyrants and despots may seek to manipulate national narratives and to manage propaganda channels both at home and abroad.
Given the wide-ranging conversations I thought the best starting point would be to ask the most accessible AI platform what they thought was going to happen next and this was the response from ChatGPT.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to advance at an unprecedented pace, its potential implications for freedom of expression cannot be ignored. While AI offers various benefits, there are growing concerns that it may inadvertently amplify censorship and restrict the fundamental right to express oneself. In this blog, we explore how AI poses a threat to freedom of expression and highlights the potential increase in censorship.
Automated content moderation
AI-driven content moderation systems are increasingly employed by social media platforms to filter and remove objectionable or illegal content. However, AI algorithms can be prone to biases, leading to inadvertent censorship. Without careful design and continuous monitoring, these systems may disproportionately target certain groups or viewpoints, limiting diverse opinions and stifling open dialogue. The over-reliance on AI for content moderation also raises concerns about lack of transparency and accountability in decision-making processes.
Algorithmic filtering
AI algorithms play a pivotal role in curating and personalising online content. While this can enhance user experiences, it also poses a risk to freedom of expression. Algorithmic filtering algorithms have the potential to create “filter bubbles” where individuals are only exposed to information that aligns with their existing beliefs. This can reinforce echo chambers, limit exposure to diverse perspectives, and impede critical thinking. By shaping the information users consume, AI-powered algorithms inadvertently control the flow of information and hinder the free exchange of ideas.
Deepfakes and disinformation
Advancements in AI have facilitated the creation of highly realistic deepfake videos and manipulated images, raising concerns about the spread of disinformation. Deepfakes can be exploited to manipulate public opinion, erode trust in authentic media, and create chaos. In response, governments and platforms might resort to increased censorship to combat this threat. While some censorship may be necessary to prevent harm, striking the right balance is crucial to avoid infringing upon individuals’ rights to express themselves freely.
In conclusion while AI offers immense potential for innovation and progress, it also poses threats to freedom of expression and could potentially increase censorship. It is essential to address these challenges by fostering transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in AI systems. Striking the right balance between AI’s capabilities and preserving fundamental rights is crucial for safeguarding freedom of expression in an AI-driven world.
After using ChatGPT for the first time to generate this blog – I now have two very different concerns. One, will I ever need to actually sit down and write a blog again? And two, even according to AI itself, we may have a lot of work ahead to protect freedom of expression in an AI-controlled environment.
As ever there is work to be done and Index will be at the frontline to protect our collective fundamental right of freedom of expression.
[The image of our CEO Ruth Anderson writing a blog post with the help of artifical intelligence at the top of this article was also generated by AI. Credit: Bing.]
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Is this all the local news? The spring 2019 issue of Index on Censorship magazine.
The spring 2019 edition of Index on Censorship looks at local news in the UK and around the world and what happens when local journalism no longer holds power to account.
Our exclusive survey of editors and journalists in the UK shows that 97% are worried that local newspapers don’t have the resources any more to hold power to account. Meanwhile the older population tell us they are worried that the public is less well informed than it used to be. Local news reporting is in trouble all over the world. In the USA Jan Fox looks at the news deserts phenomenon and what it means for a local area to lose its newspaper. Karoline Kan writes from China about how local newspapers, which used to have the freedom to cover crises and hold the government to account, are closing as they come increasingly under Communist Party scrutiny. Veteran English radio journalist Libby Purves tells editor Rachael Jolley that local newspapers in the UK used to give a voice to working-class people and that their demise may have contributed to Brexit. In India Rituparna Chatterjee finds a huge appetite for local news, but discovers, with some notable exceptions, that there is not enough investment to satisfy demand. “Fake news” is on the rise, and journalists are vulnerable to bribery. Meanwhile Mark Frary examines how artificial intelligence is being used to write news stories and asks whether this is helping or hindering journalism. Finally an extract from the dystopian Slovak novel Troll, Michal Hvorecký published in English for the first time imagines an outpouring of state-sponsored hate
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Special Report: Is this all the local news?”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Dearth of news by Karoline Kan Some local newspapers in China no longer dig into corruption or give a voice to local people as Communist Party scrutiny increases
Remote controller by Dan Nolan What happens when all major media, state and private, is controlled by Hungary’s government and all the front pages start looking the same
Rocky times by Monica O’Shea Local Australian newspapers are merging, closing and losing circulation which leaves scandals unreported
Standing up for freedom Adam Reichardt A look at Gdańsk’s history of protest and liberalism, as the city fights back after the murder of mayor Paweł Adamowicz
After the purge by Samuel Abrahám and Miriam Sherwood This feature asks two writers about lessons for today from their Slovak families’ experiences 50 years ago
Cover up by Charlotte Bailey Kuwaiti writer Layla AlAmmar discusses why 4,000 books were banned in her home country and the possible fate of her first #MeToo novel
Silence speaks volumes by Neema Komba Tanzanian artists and musicians are facing government censorship in a country where 64 new restrictions have just been introduced
The year of the troll by Michal Hvorecký This extract from the novel Troll describes a world where the government controls the people by spewing out hate 24 hours a day
Ghost writers by Jeffrey Wasserstrom The author and China expert imagines a fictional futuristic lecture he’s going to give in 2049, the centenary of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Subscribe”][vc_column_text]In print, online, in your mailbox, on your iPad.
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SUBSCRIBE NOW[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”105481″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Listen”][vc_column_text]The spring 2019 magazine podcast, featuring interviews with editor of chinadialogue, Karoline Kan; director of the Society of Editors in the UK Ian Murray and co-founder of the Bishop’s Stortford Independent, Sinead Corr. Index youth board members Arpitha Desai and Melissa Zisingwe also talk about local journalism in India and Zimbabwe
