On December 6, Forus launched the Civil Society Manifesto for Ethical AI. We were over 49 organizations spanning 36 countries to discuss current risks and opportunities when it comes to AI, and to brainstorm on how to challenge existing narratives surrounding AI and machine learning.  

Throughout, the resounding message was clear and it echoes the motto of the Manifesto: "Nothing About Us Without Us!".

Overall, the discussion delved into the intersection of AI with social justice, exploring global, local, and feminist perspectives. The panelists underscored the potential negative impact of AI on social protections and media narratives, shedding light on its adverse effects on job opportunities, privacy, collective rights and thus the imperative for safeguards. We also saw the other side of the coin discussing the opportunities of AI in Central Africa and projects such as Machine Learning for Peace that use AI to monitor and predict civic space challenges.

Some recommendations that came out of the meeting:

• The importance of collecting evidence-based case studies to counter prevailing narratives

• The need of creating alternative spaces of discussion around AI and to strategise together ahead of international events such as the IGF and legislations being drafted at national level

• The imperative for international legal regulations to safeguard rights and the need for civil society to share best practices on how to influence such legislations - for instance we saw how Lafede.cat created an ecosystem to influence the current EU AI Act.

You can now find the Manifesto in English, French and Spanish. We invite you to delve into its stories and to join the initiative here!

Here's the collective press release/statement with key messages from the organisations involved in the Manifesto.

Here you can find the recordings from MEP Brando Benifei (European Parliament, Co-Rapporteur EU AI ACT) and from Camilla Lohenoja (SASK, trade union Finland).

A very special thanks to the speakers, including Alain Serge Mifoundou (REPONGAC), MEP Brando Benifei (European Parliament, Co-Rapporteur EU AI ACT), Irene Mwendwa (Pollicy), Jeremy Springman (Machine Learning for Peace, University of Pennsylvania), Judith Membrives i Llorens (Lafede.cat), Camilla Lohenoja (SASK, trade union Finland) and Nina Sagma (Asia Indigenous People Pact). Thank you to the whole Manifesto Advisory and Drafting Group, to the Forus team and to the amazing interpreters Giorgia Rossi, Roberto Sanchez, Alvaro  Martinez and  Elizabeth Baca.