Information is a crucial component of democracy. It keeps tabs on the activities of the most powerful actors in society, from governments to multinationals and very affluent individuals. But in recent years, concerns about the algorithmization of information and the spread of false information, especially on large social networks, as well as the emergence of deepfakes, have undermined people’s trust in online information, the media and institutions in general. In addition, personal data and privacy issues are at the heart of the digital economy, which also affects online media outlets, particularly because of their reliance on advertising revenues and the rise of content offerings that require users to log in.
C4DT and IMI organized a track on “AI for Media & Democracy” at the AMLD EPFL 2022 conference on March 30, covering three main topics:
- Protection of journalists and their sources
- Manipulation of public opinion
- Information security and personal data protection
In total, approximately 250 people attended the three sessions in-person.
