ISLAMABAD: The internet was initially seen as a tool that could revolutionise democracy by simply getting and connecting people online. While it alone doesn’t directly create democratic revolutions, it remains highly valuable to enhance access to information, foster free expression, and connect communities in ways that support democratic values. This was stated by Vice President Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) Daniel Castro at a roundtable discussion on “Empowering democratic governance through technology/AI and media freedom” organised by the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) in collaboration with the Public Diplomacy Section of US embassy Islamabad

“Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be viewed as a transformative tool, comparable in significance and value to the internet, for strengthening democracy. It provides innovative avenues for accessing and understanding information, and the democratic values that we believe in and that need to be appreciated by making them more personalized, accessible, and interactive.”

Castro noted that it was very important to understand how emerging technologies like AI should be regulated, at what level, and who gets to regulate.

“For instance, if the US regulates the development of an AI model that Pakistan is using, that could mean rules being put into place that are exclusive of the voices of Pakistani citizens in shaping them. At the same time, if the US does not do anything in terms of the regulation of the use of technology globally, it could lead to the release and use of technology in ways that could be harmful to Pakistan. Therefore, a shared global responsibility is of paramount importance, and the bigger picture and the long-term use of technology require balance where the real focus should be on allowing countries to focus on regulating the use of these technologies,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2024