OTI Responds to OSCE Consultation on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Free Speech

Last week, New America’s Open Technology Institute (OTI) and Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) submitted a joint filing as part of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)’s online public consultation on the impact of artificial intelligence on free speech. The consultation was organized by the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, as part of its efforts to produce recommendations for OSCE-participating states and other stakeholders, such as internet intermediaries, on how to protect free speech when using artificial intelligence.

Through the consultation, OTI and RDR touched on a number of free expression-related topics, including the targeted advertising-driven business model that underpins most internet platforms today, the troubling gatekeeper role that these internet companies play, algorithmic discrimination, algorithmic transparency mechanisms, and how artificial intelligence is used for content moderation.

OTI has done extensive work at the intersection of artificial intelligence and freedom of speech, and drew from that work in its filing with OSCE. Most recently, OTI concluded a report series which explores how internet platforms use artificial intelligence and machine-learning to shape and curate the content we see online through content moderation, search result and news feed ranking, the targeting and delivery of advertisements, and recommendation systems. OTI also published a Transparency Reporting Toolkit focused on best practices for transparency reporting related to content moderation. Further, OTI is one of the original authors of the Santa Clara Principles on Transparency and Accountability in Content Moderation, which outlines minimum standards that internet platforms should meet to provide meaningful transparency and accountability around their content moderation policies and practices.

The following quote can be attributed to Spandi Singh, policy analyst at New America’s Open Technology Institute:

“We welcome the OSCE’s efforts to explore the very important issues that lie at the intersection of artificial intelligence and free speech online. As the OSCE moves forward with drafting its recommendations, it should ensure that transparency and accountability are central in its efforts and that all recommendations are rights-respecting. In addition, the OSCE should ensure that its recommendations consider how internet platforms’ surveillance capitalism-based business models and their dominant market positions influence the development and deployment of automated tools and their subsequent impacts on online speech.”