UNESCO Launches AI4IA Satellite Event in South Africa to Tackle Harmful Content via AI
SDG 16: Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions | SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure
Institutions: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology | Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
On 19 September 2025, UNESCOβs Information for All Programme (IFAP) will host the first AI4IA Satellite Event in South Africa, organized in partnership with the University of Pretoria, the UNESCO Regional Office for Southern Africa (ROSA), and the EU-funded Social Media 4 Peace (SM4P) project. The event brings together governments, academia, civil society, media, and youth to deliberate on how artificial intelligence can bolster resilience against the spread of harmful online content-including disinformation, hate speech, and other harmful speech forms. The discussions will feed into the 6th Global AI4IA Conference (scheduled online on 28 September 2025), aligned with the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI). UNESCO emphasizes that regional βsatellite eventsβ are crucial to ground global AI governance conversations in local contexts and strengthen regional collaborations.
This initiative signals a push for multi-stakeholder governance of AI in content moderation-where technical, regulatory, and human rights dimensions must be balanced. For countries in the Global South, including India, participating in such dialogues can influence how AI regulation is shaped, especially regarding content liability, algorithmic transparency, and inclusive access to information.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders:
How should Indian regulators, technology ministries, and civil society partner to incorporate AI-based safeguards against harmful content (hate speech, misinformation) that respect freedom of expression, ensure accountability, and are informed by global AI4IA dialogues?
Follow the full news here: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/first-ever-ai4ia-satellite-event-comes-south-africa-strengthen-resilience-societies-harmful-content?hub=701