“Amidst spiraling battle, local weather chaos, rising divisions, and a quickly altering digital panorama, a free press is extra important than ever,” mentioned Volker Türk.
Moreover, “the media assist us perceive the world round us and encourage essential pondering and dialogue.”
Threats and deaths
Free and impartial media are the perfect antidote to disinformation however press freedom is below menace in each area of the world, he warned.
“States harass, detain, torture and even kill media staff, merely for doing their jobs” whereas “in some battle zones, fighters limit or deny entry to journalists.”
He famous that since January, a minimum of 20 individuals who work in media have been killed and impunity for crimes in opposition to journalists stays widespread, with greater than 80 per cent of killings going unpunished.
AI rewards…and dangers
Mr. Türk mentioned this 12 months’s observance of press freedom is a reminder that media repression is rising whereas synthetic intelligence (AI) is solely overhauling how data is produced, distributed, and consumed.
Though AI is usually a useful gizmo for journalists, it additionally carries vital dangers for press freedom, he warned.
“AI-based algorithms typically dictate what we see, shaping our opinions and perceptions of actuality. Politicians use AI to weaponize disinformation and advance their very own agendas,” he mentioned.
“States are additionally utilizing AI instruments to watch journalists and their sources on-line, violating their proper to privateness. This has a chilling impact on media staff all over the place. And girls journalists are disproportionately focused.”
Focus of energy
Moreover, “a small group of firms and people have virtually complete management over AI expertise and affect on the worldwide media panorama.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres additionally highlighted the alternatives and dangers posed by AI in his message on press freedom.
“Biased algorithms, outright lies, and hate speech are landmines on the data superhighway. Correct, verifiable, fact-based data is the perfect instrument to defuse them,” he mentioned.
He pointed to the Global Digital Compact adopted final 12 months by UN Member States, which incorporates “concrete steps to strengthen worldwide cooperation to advertise data integrity, tolerance and respect within the digital area.”
Change course now
Mr. Türk mentioned World Press Freedom Day is a chance for everybody to urgently decide to altering course now, beginning with States.
They have to be certain that journalists are secure from assaults, hate campaigns and surveillance, in addition to bodily and authorized harassment.
“It’s essential to have extra transparency in how knowledge is used, how content material is curated, and the way algorithms are designed.”
Media focus legal guidelines – that’s, laws round possession of mass media retailers – additionally should be up to date to mirror the ability of AI and tech platforms and promote a various media panorama that secures area for impartial journalism.
In the meantime, tech corporations have a vital function. On this regard, Mr. Turk introduced that his Workplace and UN academic and cultural company UNESCO are providing steering to assist tech corporations assess the dangers their instruments pose to journalists and civil society.
“A free, impartial, and numerous media will help to heal the divisions in our societies. We should do every part in our energy to guard it and permit it to flourish,” he mentioned.
