UN Chief Warns of AI's Potential Threat to Democracy

Unchecked AI Threatens Democracy, Warns UN Chief

These risks are particularly critical this year, as over 50 countries - representing half the world's population - hold elections. In a message for Sunday's International Day of Democracy, Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated the importance of upholding free speech, civil liberties and the rule of law, as well as ensuring accountable institutions and protecting human rights. "Yet, these rights and values are under attack around the world. Freedoms are being eroded. Civic space is diminishing. Polarization is intensifying. And mistrust is growing," he said. Despite the dangers, artificial intelligence has the potential to play a positive role in strengthening democratic systems, he continued, noting that AI can promote full and active public participation, enhance equality and contribute to human development. "AI can boost education on democratic processes, and shape more inclusive civic spaces where people have a say in decisions and can hold decision-makers to account," Mr. Guterres said. By utilising AI for good governance, countries can create more transparent and accountable systems, that allow citizens to engage more effectively. However, this will require effective governance of AI at all levels, including internationally. Mr. Guterres also highlighted the recent report of the UN's High-Level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence with recommendations on harnessing the benefits of AI while mitigating the risks. "The message is clear: AI must serve humanity equitably and safely," he stressed, adding that the upcoming Summit of the Future will be a critical platform for nations to discuss ways to strengthen international cooperation on AI. "On this International Day of Democracy, let us keep working to build a more inclusive, just, and equal world." It is equally crucial to address another fundamental aspect of democracy: the equal political participation of women, as emphasised by UN-Women, the lead agency for gender equality. "Their inclusion is a matter of justice and a key factor in creating more effective governance," the agency said, noting that women's representation is vital for advancing issues such as health, education, and gender-based violence. Despite this, women's voices remain underrepresented in decision-making globally. Only 27 countries are led by women - an increase from 18 a decade ago - while women hold just 23 per cent of cabinet positions worldwide, and only 15 countries have achieved gender parity in their cabinets. Harmful social norms and gender-based violence continue to hinder women's political rights and media stereotypes often undermine their leadership capabilities. Additionally, online threats of violence against women in politics and public life are rising, potentially exacerbated by AI technologies. To address these pressing problems, UN-Women urged governments to take proactive measures to close the gender gap in political participation. This includes implementing gender quotas, combating violence against women in politics, ensuring equal treatment of women voters and candidates, investing in capacity-building for women candidates, and promoting fair and transparent media coverage of women's political roles. Commemorated annually on 15 September, the International Day of Democracy provides an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world. This year, the focus is on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for good governance. It was established in 2007 by the UN General Assembly, which reaffirmed that democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and their full participation in all aspects of life. The Assembly also encouraged Governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to promoting and consolidating democracy, including through increased bilateral, regional and international cooperation.

International Day of Democracy: AI and democracy

More than fifty countries - half of the global population - are holding elections this year. Also, this year AI will add human speech model and the ability to perceive, reason and generalize to its already existing ability to respond to queries with relevant text, audio, images and other types of content. AI will become more powerful. Its power will continue to grow rapidly as the years go by. Will a powerful AI benefit or damage democracy? But before that, what is democracy and what is AI? What is Democracy? The word democracy comes from the Greek dēmokratia, from demos "the people" plus kratia "power, rule." So, democracy is a system of government where the people hold the power either directly or through their elected representatives. Elected government is the bedrock of democracy. But democracy is much more than that. The fundamental principles and practices of democracy are: Popular sovereignty: Government derives its authority from the governed. Citizens choose their leaders and influence legislation. Equal: Everyone has the same opportunity to influence the decisions that affect them. Free: Everyone has the same rights and freedoms, and people's voices are heard? Fair: Services and protections people receive match the concessions they are asked to make. Equitable: People have similar opportunities and responsibilities their situation is taken into account. Rights: Fundamental individual rights are guaranteed Freedom: Of political expression, of speech, assembly, religion, and of the press, to ensure that voters are well informed to vote according to their own interests and beliefs. These rights are crucial for a vibrant civil society. Rule of law: The law applies equally to all individuals, and to government. Its actions are subject to legal constraints. This principle helps protect civil liberties. Free and fair elections: Regular and transparent elections. Citizens are able to vote without intimidation. Political pluralism: Multiple political parties and diverse viewpoints, debate, and competition in the political arena are promoted. Checks and balances: Multiple branches of government - executive, legislative, and judicial- that can limit each other's powers, and prevent the concentration of authority in one branch. Citizen participation: Encourage civic engagement and participation in various forms, such as public discourse, activism, and in community organizations. Pluralism: Encourages existence of multiple political parties and diverse viewpoints, allow debate and competition in the political arena. What is AI? Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems or machines that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence. AI can see and identify objects, understand human language, recognizes patterns, learn from experience, make decisions, solve problems, and adapt to new information. AI can act independently, replacing the need for human intelligence or intervention, for example in a self-driving car. AI can automate tasks and make complex decisions more efficiently than humans. AI is a powerful technology. It can enhance efficiency and provide valuable insights. It can be a beneficial tool if wielded with wisdom, cultural sensitivity, and a deep understanding of local contexts. It can complement human skills, letting the humans focus on higher-level problem-solving and creative thinking. But it can also be used to spread mis and disinformation, hate speech, and deepfakes. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, says that AI can enhance public participation, equality, security, and human development, but warns that if "left unchecked" its dangers "could have serious implications for democracy, peace, and stability." AI's potential benefits to democracy AI can offer several benefits to democracy. Enhance various aspects of governance, civic engagement, and public administration. Here are a few of the key benefits: Enhanced transparency: AI can enhance transparency by making government data more accessible and understandable to the public. This could help hold officials accountable and promote trust in governmental institutions. Informed decision-making: AI can analyse vast amounts of data to provide insights that support evidence-based policymaking. By understanding trends and public sentiment, governments can make more informed decisions that better reflect the needs and preferences of citizens. Enhanced civic engagement: AI technologies can facilitate communication between citizens and their representatives. Chatbots and virtual assistants can help answer questions, gather feedback, and encourage public participation in political processes, making it easier for individuals to engage with government. Improved accessibility: AI tools can make political information more accessible through personalized content delivery, language translation, and content simplification. This can empower people who may otherwise feel excluded from the political process. Election integrity: AI can assist in monitoring election processes, identifying irregularities, and ensuring fair practices. For example, AI systems can analyse voting patterns to detect anomalies that may indicate fraud or manipulation. Policy analysis and simulation: AI models can simulate the potential impacts of various policies before they are enacted. This ability to forecast outcomes can help policymakers assess risks and benefits more accurately, leading to better governance. Crisis management: During crises, for example natural disasters, pandemics, AI can help governments respond effectively by analysing data in real time. This enables quicker decision-making and resource allocation based on accurate assessments of needs. Enhanced social services: AI can improve the delivery of social services, making them more efficient and targeted. By analysing the needs of different communities, AI can help ensure that resources are allocated where they are most needed. Reduction of administrative burdens: Automation of routine administrative tasks can free up governmental resources, allowing public servants to focus on more complex issues and improving overall efficiency in government operations. AI's potential threats to democracy If misused, AI can pose several threats to democracy. A few of the threats are: Misinformation and deepfakes: AI can generate realistic fake content, which can be used to spread misinformation, manipulate public opinion, or undermine trust in democratic institutions. Surveillance and Privacy: AI technologies can facilitate mass surveillance by governments or corporations, leading to a reduction in individual privacy and potential abuses of power. Algorithmic bias: If AI systems are biased, they can reinforce existing social inequalities and discrimination, potentially influencing electoral outcomes or public policy in ways that do not reflect the will of the people. Manipulation of public discourse: AI-driven tools can be used to micro-target voters with tailored messages, which may lead to polarization and a less informed electorate. Concentration of power: The entities that control AI technologies can wield significant influence over political processes, potentially undermining democratic accountability. Conclusion AI has significant potential to enhance democratic processes and governance; to enhance full and active public participation, equality, security, and human development; to ensure that people have a say in decisions and can hold decision-makers to account. But it can also be misused to undermine democracy. AI technologies must therefore be used responsibly, with transparency, fairness, and accountability. Effective governance of AI at all levels is a must. So that risks to democracy are minimized and benefits are maximized.