Tech for the Social Good

 

 

Challenges to the free flow of information internationally are not presented by the state, but by quasi state platforms. Responsible flow of information is driven by the ability to scrape, check and share accurate information. Some people are drawn to misinformation, but even for those intentionally seeking to share accurate information, it is not that easy to obtain. On the supply side instead of two or three reliable platforms, there are numerous platforms fracturing the information that is accessible.  In addition to concerns about youth being targeted online, cyber security research shows there are increased attacks by teenagers or groups of teenagers. Phishing has extended to age 12 and younger and each country has its own set of policies. Some countries have little or no safeguards. Another concern is the use of AI at schools and colleges employing chat bots in lieu of human counseling services.  Dating services online are using AI generated profiles to lure young people into illicit activities and sextortion. Faked recordings of real people set up zoom meetings in Hong Kong to engage young people in fraudulent schemes. These kinds of dangerous activities are growing faster than cyber security policies can be developed to address them, even in nations that are aware of the problems. The question of the day is “How can we balance the benefits of AI with the risks?” Young people are learning to navigate the arc from pessimism to optimism, moving from concerns about depressing content and demeaning experiences to optimism about meaningful uses of technology to benefit society and potential to achieve social development goals.