Science & Technology

The deepening digital divide in the Philippines and Cambodia is scrutinised to highlight its impact on educational inequities exacerbated by COVID-19. There is an urgent need for structural reforms that goes beyond posturing and techno-related solutions to ensure equitable access to quality education.

The AI Act, an EU regulation effective from August 2024, emphasises protecting human rights by ensuring AI transparency, safety, and ethical standards. It mandates clear labelling of AI-generated content to prevent misinformation and protect privacy. Educational institutions using AI, like ChatGPT, must comply, safeguarding students' rights and fostering ethical AI integration.

Climate change is closely linked to the imperative for social justice. As addressed at the Fundamental Rights Forum 2024, it is crucial to tackle inequalities, elevate marginalised groups and establish comprehensive policies that account for a sustainable future.

Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) remains a pressing concern, and accessible AI tools generating hyper-realistic content exacerbate this digital crisis, endangering children, obstructing investigations, and undermining legal certainty and effectiveness of laws. It is time for global awareness of AI CSAM’s alarming implications.

Emphasising collaboration among diverse stakeholders—government, businesses, human rights defenders, and intergovernmental organisations, the FRA Forum 2024 highlighted the need for a human rights vision to address technological challenges like AI. Despite discrepancies, a collective common ground has called for a digital future rooted in dignity and justice.

Harnessing new technologies, activists confront challenges like algorithmic bias and misinformation. A strong emphasis on an ethical and responsible use to advance human rights must be made. Despite risks, technology can empower activism, promoting collective action, accountability and democracy worldwide.

Among the pressing human rights challenges for Europe as discussed at the FRA Forum 2024 under a valuable cross-generational perspective, it is worth highlighting insights on election impact, civic space promotion and protection, as well as digitalisation and AI impact.

Welcome to our sixth Curated series, which provides a space to reflect on conversations developed in the context of the Fundamental Rights Forum 2024 in relation to various issues concerning some pressing human rights challenges of our time and the significance of preparedness to overcome them.

As the EP elections approach, ICT present both opportunities and challenges for election campaigns. While a European regulatory framework for ICT usage is emerging, its adequacy is yet to be tested in the forthcoming elections. European human rights standards serve as a guide for the integration of ICT, allowing to leverage ICT's potential for democracy.

Global technology giants are shaping the future of African politics in complex and myriad ways. Big tech offers powerful tools to engage citizens and enhance democracy. However, tighter regulation and greater accountability is needed to combat voter manipulation, misinformation and privacy concerns.