Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming commonplace in every aspect of society at an accelerating rate. However, the rise of AI does not come without challenges. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to raise awareness of some risks AI represents in the context of mass atrocities. The list is non-exhaustive. It includes the exploitation of sensitive data, the question of ethics, cybercrime and warfare, programmes and models run by AI. The paper is written by the team of interns in the Budapest Centre and it mainly targets young people to introduce them to the topic of mass atrocities in relation to AI; however, we also welcome academics to utilize this work for their purposes.

The authors hope that the document will also contribute to the research planned by the Budapest Centre within the Initiative “Multipolar Task Force.”

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In light of increasing levels of intolerance, discrimination and group hatred in Europe, the CEE Prevent Net project aims at safeguarding young people by strengthening their resilience toward these phenomena and their skills to contribute to a peaceful and democratic society. Building on the previous project European Fair Skills, CEE Prevent Net focuses on Central and Eastern Europe and Eastern Germany, since this region shares common socio-historic experiences, structural conditions and current challenges.

The project’s main objectives comprise fostering the capacity of practitioners from social/youth work and non-formal education to deal with intolerance, group hatred and violence among young people; creating a platform for multi-agency cooperation in the project countries and across the CEE region; mustering support from stakeholders and policy-makers beyond political partisanship and societal cleavages; and raising awareness for CEE issues and approaches in European and international prevention networks, where this region is still under-represented.

The intention of this series of papers is to raise awareness of the risks of artificial intelligence (AI) in the realm of human rights, and more specifically, mass atrocities. They are written by a group of young research assistants during their internship at the Budapest Centre who will finish their graduate studies in the next months. The articles target people of their age specifically to introduce them to the issue of AI in the context of mass atrocities and grant them a broad overview of it. The papers do not go in-depth; they merely introduce the readers to the topic of AI through the lens of mass atrocities and human rights. While academics are not the primary target, they are welcome to utilize the paper for their own purpose.

“The Rise of Artificial Intelligence: Risks from the Perspective of Mass Atrocities” is the first paper written of this series and presents a global introduction to this topic. Several risks linked to or run by AI in the field of mass atrocities are detailed, such as sensitive data, the question of ethics, cybercrime or warfare.

The second paper that will be published soon regards the policies and recommendations made by international and regional organizations in response to the risks that AI may pose to human rights abuses, including the perpetration of mass atrocities.

More papers on this topic are planned to be published on the social media platforms of the Budapest Center for Mass Atrocities in the forthcoming months.

Young and ambitious researchers are most welcome to participate in this endeavor!!

Stay tuned!


Find the links to the articles below:

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence: Risks from the Perspective of Mass Atrocities

The Rise of Artificial Intelligence in The Context of Mass Atrocities: Policies and Recommendations from International and Regional Organisations

How AI can either exacerbate or prevent genocides: Reflection based on the 10 Stages of Genocide

The Budapest Centre for Mass Atrocities Prevention (BCMAP) and the Environment & Development Resource Centre (EDRC) aim to set up of a Multipolar Task Force (MTF) to help harmonize the diverging approaches of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council (P5) on the threats of climate security and digital transformation through the lens of mass atrocities prevention.

Background

Europe – in particular the CEE region – is experiencing a rise in polarising political and social movements characterized by Euroscepticism, chauvinism and xenophobia, radicalisation and incidents of violent extremism. These tendencies appear where a loss of societal trust, marginalisation and inflamed community tension perpetuates group-on-group discrimination or stigmatization. To develop effective detection and response interventions a systematic and targeted approach needs to be adopted for each stage of the cycle.

Background

Central and Eastern Europe are experiencing a revitalization of ethno-nationalist political movements. Youth between 18 and 26 are a priority when tackling this issue: they are a particularly susceptible to online propaganda and extremism, also they are increasingly forming the centre of these movements.

For children and young people growing up in an increasingly digitised world, cyber bullying is a big worry. A new Europe-wide campaign ‘Words are Stones’ is mobilising a youth network of bloggers, influencers, and activists across the continent to say enough is enough. Cyber bullying is defined as any form of bullying which occurs online.

The adoption of the principle of the Responsibility to Protect (RtoP) in 2005 is an achievement of the liberal world order. In paying distinct attention to the protection of human rights and populations, including minorities, it is a triumph of multilateralism. It represents an important milestone on the road to “never again”.