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CFP - Digital Inclusion Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC) - September 2021
by Carmi, Elinor 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Happy Easter/Passover everyone, I hope you're doing as well as possible these days. Since you're all tired of emails I'll do the short version here and you can read the full abstract on the conference website - https://easychair.org/cfp/DIPRC2021: The Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC) Tuesday, September 14 2021 In this third edition of the Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC) 2021, we invite scholars and practitioners to talk about their latest work in what many consider as a crucial point for digital inclusion, digital divides and data literacy. Who got left behind and struggled the most during the pandemic? What new digital practices emerged from the pandemic to help people manage their well-being and survival? Did technology interventions such as contact tracing apps actually help manage the pandemic? How did different communities organise to assist each other via digital means? How did different governments and local municipalities respond to digital literacy challenges? How is mainstream media implicated in how we understand what is happening? The conference aims to focus on the recent global developments influenced by the pandemic in research, policy, and practice. Over this short time digital inequalities, digital inclusion and digital literacies have changed in response to global developments. However, key themes have remained important such as: material and financial access; skills and digital literacy; use by citizens and communities; the impact of socio-economic factors; motivation and attitudes; and more recently socio-economic and socio-cultural variations in patterns of usage. Digital inequities therefore have become an important part of broader persistent issues of social equity and justice. For the open sessions, we seek presentations and papers that cover empirical research as well as policy and practice interventions, on topics such as: * Data analysis of levels of digital inclusion/exclusion and engagement. * Case studies of initiatives and programmes. * Case studies of community impact. * Studies of the impacts of digital exclusion and inequalities. * Policy interventions to address digital inequalities. Given that 2020 and 2021 have been dominated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has itself revealed huge digital inequalities, we also invite papers on: * Disinformation/misinformation and digital literacy during the pandemic. * Studies on the link between misinformation and data literacies. * Government, community and voluntary sector responses to digital literacy needs. * Digital platform use and 'big tech' responses to the pandemic. * Community responses to digital needs due to the pandemic. Please submit your abstract here: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=diprc2021 The conference will be free to attend this year and held online - events will be scheduled to facilitate as far as possible attendance from all time zones. Important dates: * Date for submitting abstracts - 31st May 2021 * Date for announcing acceptances - End of July 2021 * Date for speakers to confirm participation - Mid August 2021 at latest. Take care and best wishes, Dr. Elinor Carmi, Postdoc Research Associate - Digital Media & Society, Department of Communication and Media, Faculty of the Humanities and Social Sciences, School of the Arts, Liverpool University, UK. https://elinorcarmi.com<https://elinorcarmi.com/> Twitter: @Elinor_Carmi

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(Conference CFP) DISC 2021 (June 18-19, 2021 ONLINE)
by Leslie Tkach-Kawasaki 02 Apr '21

02 Apr '21

Dear Colleagues, Apologies for cross-posting. The 6th DISC (Data, Innovation, Social Network & Convergence) 2021 Conference Conference Dates: June 18 - 19, 2021 (JST) Abstract Submissions April 15, 2021 (JST) Conference Organizers Leslie Tkach-Kawasaki (University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan) Manuela Hartwig (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan) Han Woo Park (Yeungnam University, Daegu, Gyeong-san, South Korea) Cyber Emotions Research Institute (YeungNam University, Daegu, Gyeong-san, South Korea) About the Conference We are pleased to announce that the 6th DISC (Data, Innovation, Social Network & Convergence) 2021 Conference will be organized as a completely ONLINE event to be held June 18-19, 2021 (JST) using Zoom. Traditionally, DISC conferences have focused on evidence-based methodologies to analyze complex social interactions as a means of understanding social and technological change. We welcome research from a broad array of fields and are especially interested in comprehensive trans-disciplinary approaches that integrate Triple Helix (TH) studies with approaches such as webometrics, scientometrics, informetrics, datametrics, and technometrics (WSIDT). Applying these methods in turn to different academic fields such as policy and technology studies, business, communications, creative industries, sociology, information technology, and tourism can yield new insights (paradigms) in understanding social phenomena. At this year’s conference, we want to simultaneously situate DISC’s traditional emphasis on TH and WSIDT and extend such trajectories to current global crises. First, the COVID-19 pandemic changes ways of working, learning, and living (“new normal”), which affects academic research, businesses, and cultures. Methods and applications of social research have to be reconsidered. Second, simultaneously, accelerating climate change threatens civilizations and world societies have to achieve net-zero carbon emissions within the next 30 years by 2050. These circumstances show that we are in dire need of systemic changes. Ultimately, our goal for DISC 2021 is to discuss what motivates social systems to change and what kind of future systems we can expect to emerge out of these challenging times. General Conference Tracks Track 1 “Triple Helix and Webometrics”: Triple Helix (TH) and Webometrics, Scientometrics, Informetrics, Datametrics, & Technometrics (WSIDT) Track 2 “Applications of SNA to the Humanities and Social Sciences”: Applications of quantitative and qualitative social network analysis in humanities (including digital humanities), social sciences, and multi-disciplinary studies. Track 3 “Asian Innovations in Social and Technological Change”: Identifying and discussing Asian approaches to social innovations and technological change with a focus on practices and applications. Special Conference Tracks: Special Track 1 “Networks and Societies in the Post-COVID-19 World”: Rethinking network analysis from qualitative and quantitative perspectives, and the future of social network research in the “new normal” post-COVID era. Special Track 2 “The ‘Big Environment’ Era: Realizing the 2030 SDGs and a Decarbonized World in 2050”: Stakeholders in the future net-zero carbon emissions society. What will the world in 2050 look like, and how will actor roles and relationships change? Submissions DISC 2021 accepts panel and/or individual paper submissions (see below for submission details). Postgraduate student and early-career researcher panels are especially encouraged, and we have set aside space in each track for such panels. Participants may have up to three roles during the conference. For example, they can be authors or co-authors on up to two papers plus be a discussant on a panel. Participants are not allowed to present more than once on a single panel. Panel submissions: Panels are made up of three to five individual papers and must have at least one organizer and a discussant. Presentations should be about 20 minutes each, with 20 minutes at the end of each panel session devoted to Q & A. Panels may be completely pre-recorded and submitted or be conducted in a hybrid “live” online manner. Please note that the panel organizer is responsible for organizing the content and flow of the panel, including gathering any pre-recorded papers/presentations and organizing the hybrid environment. The following information must be inputted in Form 1 available at http://tinyurl.com/DISC2021panel ● Track choice ● Panel title ● Panel organizer(s) name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact email address(es). ● 100- to 150-word panel abstract showing how papers are connected ● 200 to 250-word abstract and 3 to 5 keywords for each paper ● Author(s) name(s), institutions, email for each paper ● Discussant name and affiliation Individual paper submissions Paper presentations should be about 20 minutes. There will be a limited number of individual paper slots available for each track. Recorded presentations are not accepted for individual paper submissions. Presenters of individual paper presentations must be prepared to present their paper in real time. The following information must be inputted in Form 2 available at http://tinyurl.com/DISC2021paper ● Track choice ● Paper title ● Author(s) name(s), institutional affiliation(s), and contact email address(es). ● 200 to 250-word abstract and 3 to 5 keywords for each paper Special issues In the past, DISC conference paper presentations with methodological, mixed methods, and data focus have been published as original research in Quality & Quantity. In addition, Asia-related research has been published in the Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia (JCEA). We are currently making proposals to both journals. Confirmed keynote speakers: Marc Smith, Founder, Social Media Research Foundation Hee Dae Kim, Director General, Mobile Technology Convergence Center, Daegu Technopark, Chief Secretariat, Daegu Creative Living Lab NodeXL Award In 2019, WATEF in Cooperation with the Social Media Research foundation inaugurated the NodeXL Insight Award for data-driven studies on social innovation. More information about the NodeXL Award is available at: https://jceasia.org/new-nodexl-network-insight-award-for-2019 Important Dates: April 15, 2021 Abstract Submission Deadline April 30, 2021 Decision Notification June 18 -19, 2021 Conference Dates For further inquiries, please contact the Conference Organizers at: DISC2021.Japan(a)gmail.com For further information about WATEF and past DISCs: http://watef.org/home/ http://watef.net/ (English only) (We will have updates about our website and other conference information on social media very soon. If you want to stay up-to-date on DISC2021 let us know via this form at http://tinyurl.com/DISC2021interest)

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2021 Nancy Baym Book Award Nominations Open
by Michelle, Association of Internet Researchers 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

We are pleased to call for nominations for the Nancy Baym Annual Book Award. This award recognizes the best scholarship of the Association of Internet Researchers, and highlights the breadth of work relating to the social and cultural dimensions of networked media. To be eligible for the award: - The book must be authored or co-authored as a monograph and must explore a single topic (edited collections are not eligible). - All of the book’s authors must be current members of AoIR at the time of submission (May 15, 2021). Memberships may be purchased here <https://members.aoir.org/>. - The book must have been published between January 1 and December 31, 2020. The books will be reviewed by a committee of Nicholas John-The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Nancy Baym-Microsoft Research, Robert W. Gehl-Louisiana Tech University, Heidi McKee-Miami University, Panayiota Tsatsou-University of Leicester, and Robert Tynes-Bard College. Each book should be accompanied by an emailed letter of nomination. Self-nominations from AoIR members are welcome. The letter of nomination, *which must be written by a current member of AoIR*, should outline: - How the book contributes to AoIR’s intellectual community. - The book’s unique contributions and overall strengths. - If not a self-nomination, the letter should also include a statement that the nominated author has been contacted prior to its submission and accepts the nomination. Books submitted without a meaningful nomination letter outlining both the strengths of the book and the book’s contribution to the AoIR community to AoIR will not be eligible. We are happy to accept books in either digital or hard copy. If digital, please send pdf to bookaward(a)aoir.org or contact for individual email addresses. Hard copies (1 each) should be mailed to: Nicholas John Department of Communication, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Mt. Scopus Jerusalem 91905 Israel Nancy Baym Microsoft, 12th floor 1 Memorial Drive Cambridge, MA 02142 USA Niki Cheong School of Media and Performing Arts, Coventry University Ellen Terry Building Jordan Well CV1 5RW Coventry UK Robert W. Gehl Robinson 212 Louisiana Tech University Ruston, Louisiana 71272-0001 10258 USA Heidi McKee Miami University Bachelor 364 Oxford, Ohio 45056 USA Panayiota Tsatsou School of Media, Communication and Sociology University of Leicester Bankfield House 132 New Walk Leicester LE1 7JA UK Robert Tynes Site Director, Eastern Bard Prison Initiative Bard College PO Box 5000 Annandale-on-Hudson, NY 12504-5000 USA Nomination letters and book copies should arrive no later than May 15th. The winner of the award will be announced in the summer of 2021. In addition to winning a cash prize, the individual will also be invited to participate at the AoIR conference in Berlin in October. Please contact Nicholas John (bookaward @ aoir.org) or President Lynn Schofield Clark (prez at aoir.org) if you have any questions about this process. Lynn Schofield Clark President, AoIR

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Reminder CFP: Edited Collection for D&D's 50th Anniversary [Due 8th April]
by Premeet Kaur Sidhu 01 Apr '21

01 Apr '21

Hi all, Just a reminder that there is one week left to submit an abstract for our edited collection on the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons [D&D], timed to celebrate and comment on its 50th anniversary. The book will be edited by Premeet Sidhu, Marcus Carter, and José Zagal, with the aim to publish through a university press. The full CFP can be found below and is also available at our website here: https://dnd.gamescholarship.org<https://dnd.gamescholarship.org/> The deadline for abstracts of 300-800 words is Thursday 8th April 2021 at 11:59 pm (Anywhere on Earth). If you have any questions or queries, please email us at dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com>. We appreciate you passing along this CFP to your relevant networks and anyone who may be interested. Cheers, Pre, Marcus, and José ___________________________________________________________________________ CFP: Edited Collection for D&D’s 50th Anniversary Abstract Deadline: Thursday 8th April 2021 (11:59 pm Anywhere on Earth) Contact/Submissions: dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com> Editors: Premeet Sidhu, Marcus Carter, and José Zagal Over the past 47 years, the tabletop role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons [D&D] has had widespread influence across games, media, and social play. In anticipation of D&D’s upcoming 50th anniversary, we are soliciting abstracts for an edited collection that will overview the game’s evolution, players, and broader sociocultural impacts throughout its first 50 years. We hope to collect and showcase some of the diverse voices and experiences within the broader D&D community (e.g., academics and non-academics, developers/designers, players, educators, historians, streamers, practitioners, gaming club/store organisers, and artists—to name a few), and encourage all to submit abstracts. Key areas of interest are (but are not limited to): studies of the game itself, D&D players and related communities, broader sociocultural impacts and value of the game, and reflections on D&D’s past, present, and future. Submissions may take one of the following general formats and accessible writing is encouraged: * Scholarly research written for an interdisciplinary and public audience. * Q&A style interviews with significant figures in the D&D community (past and present, and both locally and/or globally). * Reflective/speculative essays about what D&D, its player base/community, and related fields of academic inquiry, can aspire to achieve in the oncoming years. Abstracts of 300-800 words are due by Thursday 8th April 2021 at 11:59 pm (Anywhere on Earth) and should be submitted to dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com>. Your abstract should include: * 3-5 key words that summarise your proposed chapter * A brief description of your proposed chapter * [And, if appropriate] A brief description or outline of the research methods and/or theoretical foundations that underpin your research Key dates * Abstract Submissions Due: 8th April 2021 * Acceptance Notifications Sent Out: 15th April 2021 * Online Workshop for Contributors: (tentatively) May 2021 * Full Chapters (5000-8000 words) Due: 15th August 2021 All academic chapters will be subject to double blind peer review. For further details, please visit our website at https://dnd.gamescholarship.org/. If you have any questions or queries, please email us at dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com>. We understand that everyone is facing unprecedented circumstances now and that some contributors’ lives are/will be more disrupted than others. If you want to submit an abstract but need more time, please send through an email to dndbookproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:dndbookproject@gmail.com> and we can work together to set an abstract deadline that is achievable for you. Cheers, Pre, Marcus, and José

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Call for Participation: DIY & More-than-Human Media Architecture Workshop
by Kavita Gonsalves 31 Mar '21

31 Mar '21

Call for Participation ============================== MAB20: DIY & MORE-THAN-HUMAN MEDIA ARCHITECTURE WORKSHOP held in conjunction with the Media Architecture Biennale 2020 in 2021 June 28 -July 2, 2021 Deadline for proposals: 30 April 2021 Workshop Date: 29 June 2021 Workshop Website: https://sites.google.com/urbaninformatics.net/mab2020workshop Workshop Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScETaAPHBzKXntjCnPOQV31kxf8T2aYYfI… Conference Website: https://mab20.mediaarchitecture.org/events/diy-more-than-human-media-archit… ============================== ------------------------------------------------ Workshop Abstract ------------------------------------------------ In recent years, research in the fields of media architecture and urban informatics have made calls to move beyond the human-centred city and towards a “more equitable multispecies city” (Van Dooren et al. 2012). Working towards future more-than-human cities, the design of hybrid digital-physical urban spaces - with an ethos of inclusivity and diversity - will require methods, tools, approaches, platforms, etc. to engage different communities, environments, and all kinds of nonhuman entities and creatures. This workshop poses the following question: While considering different characteristics (such as gender, race, class, abilities, creed, digital skills, habitat, bio-systems), how can citizens engage in creating DIY and More-than-Human Media Architecture to actively shape their spaces and foster imaginaries of more-than-human urban futurity, all while being kinder towards our stressed and fragile urban ecology? As a first step, DIY Media Architecture proposes that communities of experts support non-experts to create and design Media Architecture as active instigators of change in their own right. A possible strategy may lie in mobilizing allegories, entanglements, multispecies world-making, speculative prototyping, i.e., techniques to frame and engage more-than-human urban futures. This is positioned as empowering the less heard as taking charge of their digital-physical canvases throughout urban spaces and, as a next step, staking their and all creatures’ rights to the city. The workshop will be conducted online from 24th-29th June 2021. The workshop will provide the platform for discussions on alternative materials, platforms, strategies and tools for enabling DIY processes of the less heard in anthropocentric engagement. The workshop, further, encourages participants to bring prototypes, demos, videos and examples to broaden the conversation on DIY and More-than-Human Media Architecture. This will be collated towards two outcomes; 1) conceptual prototypes and 2) participants will be invited to co-author a publication. This is in keeping with MAB2020’s Themes & Issues of “Citizen’s Digital Rights”, “Playful and Artistic Civic Engagement” and “More-Than-Human Cities.” ------------------------------------------------ Workshop Themes ------------------------------------------------ We invite architects, designers, artists, academia, students, industry, media producers, technologists, psychologists, community practitioners and other interdisciplinary participants to help shape the discourse around and practice of DIY and More-than-Human Media Architecture. The workshop themes are: - Tools, Services, Building Blocks and Case Studies of different types of DIY and More-than-Human Media Architecture. - Methods and Methodologies of engaging in DIY and More-than-Human Media Architecture Processes, Platforms & Approaches. - Explorations and reflections of Social and Ethical Dimensions/Inquiries of Allegories, Entanglements, Speculative Practice through DIY and More-than-Human Media Architecture. ------------------------------------------------ Workshop Participation ------------------------------------------------ The workshop will involve a format of online presentations in the lead up to a workshop/s in 2021. Prospective participants are encouraged to contribute a short biography (50 words per author) along with a proposal. The proposal can take the form of one of the following: A brief position paper (500 words, excluding references) OR Visual Design Provocation (2-8 pages) on prototype or demo. You can pitch to do an online presentation or demonstrate a prototype during the workshops. Do indicate the time required for your presentation in your proposal. Workshop Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScETaAPHBzKXntjCnPOQV31kxf8T2aYYfI… ------------------------------------------------ Key Dates ------------------------------------------------ Deadline for proposals: 30 April 2021. Workshop Participant Notification: 14 May 2021. Schedule of sessions will be available by 1 June 2021. The Online Workshop will run on 29 June 2021 on Zoom. ------------------------------------------------ Workshop Organisers ------------------------------------------------ Kavita Gonsalves | Queensland University of Technology Greg Nijs | Université Libre de Bruxelles Waldemar Jenek | Queensland University of Technology Thomas Laureyssens | LUCA School of Arts Jorgos Coenen | KU Leuven Glenda Amayo Caldwell | Queensland University of Technology Andrew Vande Moere | KU Leuven Marcus Foth | Queensland University of Technology ------------------------------------------------ Contact ------------------------------------------------ k [dot] gonsalves [at] hdr [dot] qut [dot] edu [dot] au greg [dot] nijs [at] urbanspecies [dot] org ------------------------------------------------ Media Architecture Biennale 2020 ------------------------------------------------ The Media Architecture Biennale is the world’s premier event on media architecture, urban interaction design, digital placemaking, urban media art and urban informatics.As we design and adapt new technologies, in turn these technologies shape our cities. What future scenarios are implied in today’s urban technologies? And how can we shape our technologies to respond to their surroundings, contributing to cities that are both socially and ecologically sustainable? Originally, media architecture was most concerned with the integration of displays and interactive installations into architectural structures, such as media facades and urban screens. Over the years, the discipline has grown much broader, as new technologies such as digital platforms and smart city technologies have increasingly made their way into the experience, management and design of cities. None of these technologies brought into the city are neutral enablers, mere decorative structures or just simple market places connecting demand and supply in fields as diverse as energy and transport to commerce and leisure. They are built upon numerous spoken and unspoken assumptions about urban life, each with their own implications for both social relations as well as their effect on the natural ecosystem.It is time therefore for the discipline of media architecture to address the implied futures of new technologies. MAB20 calls for media architectures that move beyond the mere spectacular; as well as beyond the design of individualized services comforting human customers. MAB20 calls for media architectures and urban interaction that dare to take on a more-than-human approach: aiming at the well-being of the natural ecosystem as a whole; For urban media art and design that bring implicit and explicit bias within technology and culture to light, and provide the means for ongoing discussion, debate, and societal change; For digital platforms that strengthen citizen’s digital rights in democratic societies. Workshop Website: https://sites.google.com/urbaninformatics.net/mab2020workshop Conference Website: https://mab20.mediaarchitecture.org/ Kind regards, Kavita ————————————————- Kavita Gonsalves PhD Candidate | Urban Informatics QUT Design Lab<https://research.qut.edu.au/designlab/> | et cetera<https://www.linkedin.com/in/kavitagonsalves> Queensland University of Technology | Brisbane, Australia

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New Book: ‘Artificial Intelligence: Media and Information Literacy, Human Rights and Freedom of Expression’
by Ibrahim Kushchu 31 Mar '21

31 Mar '21

Dear All I am pleased to announce a new book (FREE to download an e-copy at the link below). ‘Artificial Intelligence: Media and Information Literacy, Human Rights and Freedom of Expression’ Published by TheNextMinds for the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education. Editors: Ibrahim Kushchu, Tuba Demirel Contributing Authors: Igor Shnurenko, Tatiana Murovana, Ibrahim Kushchu The table of contents is below and you can download a free e-copy here: https://thenextminds.com/resources/ ====== Ibrahim KUSHCHU, MBA, MSC., PHD Director, theNextMinds info(a)thenextminds.com www.thenextminds.com +44 7740143135 ======== CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................... I EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...................................................................................... II 1. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES............................... 1 1.1 Artificial Intelligence.......................................................................................2 1.1.1 Revisiting The Narrow Artificial Intelligence .......................................3 1.2 Augmented Intelligence: Extending Human and Machine Intelligence...4 1.3 How Does AI Work?........................................................................................5 1.4 Digital Technologies, AI and The Societal Implications..............................6 1.5 Emerging Automation Technologies............................................................8 1.6 Introducing Automation Concepts...............................................................9 1.6.1 Big Data....................................................................................................9 1.6.2 The Cloud...............................................................................................11 1.6.3 The Internet of Things..........................................................................13 1.6.4 Industry 4.0, Automation and Robotics ............................................14 1.6.5 Section Summary..................................................................................16 1.7 What Is So Special with AI? .........................................................................17 1.7.1 The Two Super Powers of AI................................................................18 1.8 Co-Evolution of AI with Society...................................................................20 1.8.1 The Risks of AI.......................................................................................22 1.8.2 Barriers to Beneficial AI .......................................................................22 1.8.3 Beneficial AI and MIL............................................................................24 1.9 Conclusions and Principles of AI for MIL...................................................26 References............................................................................................................27 2. MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY & ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE............ 30 2.1 UNESCO Perspectives on MIL.....................................................................31 2.2 Media and Information Literacy and Socio-Economic Context .............34 2.2.1 Complexity and Uncertainty ...............................................................35 2.2.2 Changes in The Media Environment..................................................36 2.2.3 Post-Truth Era.......................................................................................38 2.2.4 ‘Attention Economy’ and ‘Surveillance Capitalism’............................39 2.3 MIL-Related Challenges Posed by The AI...................................................41 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: MEDIA AND INFORMATION LITERACY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION 2.3.1 Filter Bubbles and Echo Chambers....................................................42 2.3.2 AI and Decision-Making in Communication......................................43 2.3.3 Programmed to Be Addictive..............................................................44 2.4 How MIL Can Practically Empower Citizens in The Digital Era................46 2.5 Critical Cognitive and Behavioural Autonomy..........................................49 2.6 Concluding Remarks....................................................................................51 References............................................................................................................52 3. AI IMPACT ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.................55 3.1 The Context for Human Rights and AI.......................................................56 3.1.1 Human Rights in Information Age and The Arrival of AI .................56 3.1.2 Uncertainty of AI and Human Rights Due Diligence.........................59 3.1.3 AI and The Right to Privacy..................................................................60 3.2 Features and Uses of AI in The Context of Human Rights......................60 3.2.1 AI’s Lack of Predictability: AGI vs. Narrow AI.....................................60 3.2.2 The Dual Aspect of AI-Driven Personalization...................................61 3.2.3 Responsibility Delusion in Automated Decision-Making.................62 3.2.4 Dangerous Use of Consumer Data.....................................................63 3.2.5 AI-Based Surveillance and Tracking....................................................64 3.2.6 AI-Enabled Affect Recognition.............................................................65 3.2.7 AI in Content Moderation....................................................................66 3.2.8 AI-Driven Micro-Targeting....................................................................67 3.2.9 The Corporate Power and The Behavioural Surplus Economy.......67 3.2.10 ‘Prediction Factories’.............................................................................68 3.2.11 AI for Propaganda and Disinformation..............................................68 3.2.12 Fake News and Deep Fakes.................................................................69 3.2.13 Potential to Embed and Perpetuate Bias and Discrimination.........70 3.3 AI Trends for Human Rights........................................................................70 3.3.1 Applying AI to Fight Bias, Discrimination, Inequality and Creating Global Opportunities...........................................................70 3.3.2 Societal Solutions to Challenges of AI................................................72 3.3.3 People’s Control Over Their Data........................................................73 3.3.4 New Dangers for Human Rights.........................................................74 3.3.5 Existential Human Rights Danger: Free Will Under Threat..............74 3.3.6 AI Fast Progress Requires Update of The Human Rights List..........75 3.3.7 Education is Key for Building a Responsible AI.................................76 3.4 Concluding Remarks....................................................................................77 References............................................................................................................77 4. GLOBAL AND NATIONAL APPROACHES TO AI REGULATION........................ 80 4.1 Global Trends: Competition vs. Cooperation............................................81 4.2 Nationalizing AI as a Geopolitical Tool.......................................................81 4.3 AI Regulation as a Tool in AI Race ..............................................................82 4.3.1 Europe: Building Trust..........................................................................82 4.3.2 China: Building Centralized AI-Driven Systems of Control..............84 4.3.3 USA: Focus on Defence and Security..................................................88 4.4 AI May not Be a Silver Bullet to Solve All Problems..................................89 4.5 Concluding Remarks....................................................................................92 References............................................................................................................92 5. PROTECTION OF RIGHTS WITH AI: LEGISLATIVE, REGULATORY AND POLICY RESPONSES............................................................................... 94 5.1 Universality and Limitations of Human Rights ........................................95 5.1.1 Boundaries on Human Rights.............................................................95 5.1.2 AI and The Principle of Universality of Human Rights......................95 5.1.3 Right to Privacy as a Gateway to Freedom of Expression................96 5.2 Moderating Freedoms: Global Trends in AI Dealing with Freedoms and Censorship..........................................................................96 5.2.1 Trend: Eroding Protection for Freedom of Expression....................96 5.2.2 AI Surveillance Becomes Ubiquitous..................................................97 5.3 Policy Response I: Preventing State-Private Collusion and Big Tech Abuse..............................................................................................98 5.4 Policy Response II: Key Requirements and Guidelines for Trustworthy AI............................................................................................ 100 5.5 Policy Response III: Human-Centric AI Application to Legislation....... 103 5.6 Importance of Collective Decisions and Openness............................... 105 5.7 Concluding Remarks................................................................................. 107 References......................................................................................................... 108 6. CLOSING NOTES........................................................................................ 110

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New publication: The Web of Meaning: The Internet in a Changing Chinese Society,
by Yuan, Jingyan Elaine 31 Mar '21

31 Mar '21

Dear colleagues, I am pleased to announce the publication of my new book: The Web of Meaning: The Internet in a Changing Chinese Society, University of Toronto Press. Synopsis Taking off at the height of China’s socio-economic reforms in the mid-1990s, the Internet developed alongside the twists and turns of the country’s rapid transformation. Central to many aspects of social change, the Internet has played an indispensable role in the decentralization of political communication, the expansion of the market, and the stratification of society in China. Through three empirical cases – online privacy, cyber-nationalism, and the network market – this book traces how different social actors engage in negotiation of the practices, social relations, and power structures that define these evolving institutions in Chinese society. Examining rich user-generated social media data with innovative methods such as semantic network analysis and topic modelling, The Web of Meaning provides a solid empirical base to critique for critiquing the power relationships that are embedded in the very fabric of Chinese society. Table of contents Preface Introduction 1. The Internet and Social Change in China 2. The Rise of the Internet as Symbolic Space 3. Assembling Network Privacy 4. Articulating Cyber-Nationalism 5. Constructing the Network Market Conclusion Published by University of Toronto Press in cloth and ebook to order at 25% discount: https://utorontopress.com/us/the-web-of-meaning-2 About the author Dr. Elaine J. Yuan https://eyuan.people.uic.edu/home.html Elaine Yuan Associate Professor & Director of Graduate Studies Department of Communication The University of Illinois at Chicago https://eyuan.people.uic.edu/home.html New book: The Web of Meaning: the Internet in a changing Chinese society, U of Toronto Press.

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WEBCAST TODAY: Niejelow Rodin Global Digital Futures Policy Forum Session 2 – fireside chat with Brad Smith
by Joly MacFie 31 Mar '21

31 Mar '21

ISOC LIVE has webcast every Digital Futures Forum since it was founded in 2016. This year it's a somewhat piecemeal event, and we'll be bring you more as it happens.. Meanwhile, enjoy the thoughts of President Brad. Microsoft is, of course, an Internet Society organizational member <https://www.internetsociety.org/about-internet-society/organization-members/> . ISOC Live posted: "Today, Wednesday March 31 2021 at 1pm EDT (17:00 UTC) the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) presents the second session of the 2021 Niejelow Rodin Global Digital Futures Policy Forum. Dean Merit E. Janow will sit down f" [image: livestream] <http://livestream.com/internetsociety/sipa-gdf2021-2>Today, *Wednesday March 31 2021* at *1pm EDT* (17:00 UTC) the *Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs <https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/>* (SIPA) presents the second session of the* 2021 Niejelow Rodin Global Digital Futures Policy Forum <https://www.sipa.columbia.edu/ideas-lab/tech-policy-sipa/2021-niejelow-rodi…>*. Dean* Merit E. Janow* will sit down for a fireside chat with *Brad Smith*, President of Microsoft, on his latest book* Tools and Weapons: The Promise and the Peril of the Digital Age <https://news.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/tools-and-weapons/>*. *LIVESTREAM* *http://livestream.com/internetsociety/sipa-gdf2021-2 <http://livestream.com/internetsociety/sipa-gdf2021-2>* *REAL TIME TEXT https://bit.ly/3sGnuMT <https://bit.ly/3sGnuMT>* *TWITTER: #SIPADigitalFutures <https://bit.ly/3cBc874> https://bit.ly/sipadigitalfutures <https://bit.ly/sipadigitalfutures> @BradSmi* *@ColumbiaSIPA* *SIMULCASTS* *https://www.pscp.tv/ISOC_Live/ <https://www.pscp.tv/ISOC_Live/>* *https://www.twitch.tv/isocny/live <https://www.twitch.tv/isocny/live>* *https://www.facebook.com/InternetSociety/live <https://www.facebook.com/InternetSociety/live>* *ARCHIVE* *https://archive.org/details/sipa-gdf2021-2 <https://archive.org/details/sipa-gdf2021-2>* *Permalink* https://isoc.live/13912/ -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -

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WEBCAST: Digital Watch Internet Governance Briefing March 2021
by Joly MacFie 31 Mar '21

31 Mar '21

This was a restream earlier today of yesterday's GIP briefing. It's downloadable in the archive, including audio and uncorrected Otter text. Interesting, for those who care about such things, to compare the Otter AI to the Rev that Diplo are now using. ISOC Live posted: "On Wednesday March 31 2021 at 13:00 UTC ISOC LIVE will restream the Digital Watch Internet Governance Briefing for March 2021. Catch up on the major internet governance and digital policy updates from all around the globe and join our experts as they anal" [image: livestream] <https://livestream.com/internetsociety/gipdw03-21>On *Wednesday March 31 2021* at *13:00 UTC ISOC LIVE <https://isoc.live>* will restream the *Digital Watch Internet Governance Briefing for March 2021 <https://dig.watch/events/briefing-73-internet-governance-march-2021>*. Catch up on the major internet governance and digital policy updates from all around the globe and join our experts as they analyse the existing and emerging policy trends. Special feature this month is Ambassador *Jürg Lauber*, Chair of the *UN Open-ended Working Group (OEWG) on Developments in the Field of ICTs in the Context of International Security <https://dig.watch/processes/un-gge>*, talking about the process that led to its '*Final Substantive Report <https://www.diplomacy.edu/blog/whats-new-cybersecurity-negotiations-un-cybe…>*' issued on March 10 2021. *PRESENTERS* *Jürg Lauber*, PR Switzerland *Stephanie Borg Psaila*, Diplo *Katarina Andjelkovic*, Diplo *Jovan Kurbalija*, Diplo *Andrijana Gavrilovic*, Diplo *Marco Lotti*, Diplo *Amrita Choudhry* *Hanane Boujemi* *Grace Mtung'u* *Ana Maria Corrêa* *MODERATORS* *Vladimir Radunovic*, Diplo *Su Sonia Herring*, Diplo *LIVESTREAM https://livestream.com/internetsociety/gipdw03-21 <https://livestream.com/internetsociety/gipdw03-21>* *REAL TIME TEXT https://bit.ly/3rDVVT0 <https://bit.ly/3rDVVT0>* *TWITTER #thegip <https://bit.ly/3cFvqse> @GenevaGIP* *SIMULCASTShttps://www.pscp.tv/ISOC_Live/ <https://www.pscp.tv/ISOC_Live/>https://www.twitch.tv/isoclive <https://www.twitch.tv/isoclive>https://www.facebook.com/isocny/live <https://www.facebook.com/isocny/live>* *ARCHIVEhttps://archive.org/details/gipdw03-21 <https://archive.org/details/gipdw03-21>* *Permalink* https://isoc.live/13908/ - -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -

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Second CFP E-Vote-ID 2021
by Peter ROENNE 31 Mar '21

31 Mar '21

[Apologies for cross and multiple postings] Conference going digital. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Given the still ongoing COVID pandemic, E-Vote-ID 2021 will also this year be held as an online conference only. COVID-19 has highlighted the question on how to deal with democracy during a pandemic. We consider that keeping the conference, albeit in digital format, is not only an academic responsibility, but also responds to the need for an active focus on electronic voting by facilitating high quality debates and responses. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- CALL FOR PAPERS E-Vote-ID 2021 Sixth International Joint Conference on Electronic Voting Virtual Conference, 5-8 October 2021 www.e-vote-id.org (Paper Submission Date: 15 May 2021) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WWW: https://www.e-vote-id.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EVoteID/ Twitter: @evotingcc Hashtag: #EVoteID2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- General Chairs: Krimmer, Robert (University of Tartu, Estonia), Volkamer, Melanie (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany) Duenas-Cid, David (Kozminski University, Poland and Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is the sixth edition of one of the leading international events for e-voting experts from all over the world, taking place in October 2021. One of its major objectives is to provide a forum for interdisciplinary and open discussion of all issues relating to electronic voting. In the first 5 editions, up to 151 presentations had been discussed, gathering more than 500 participants. Given the current pandemic situation and the experience with 2020 edition, the conference will be organized considering both, onsite and virtual format, following a hybrid conference model. The aim of the conference is to bring together e-voting specialists working in academia, politics, government and industry in order to discuss various aspects of all forms of electronic voting (including, but not limited to, polling stations, kiosks, ballot scanners and remote voting by electronic means) in the four following tracks below and a PhD colloquium: Track on Security, Usability and Technical Issues Chairs: Kulyk, Oksana (IT University of Copenhagen, Denmark) and Rønne, Peter (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg) Design, analysis, formal modeling or research implementation of: - Electronic voting protocols and systems; - Voter identification and authentication; - Ballot secrecy, receipt-freeness and coercion resistance; - Election verification including end-to-end verifiability and risk limiting audits; - Requirements; - Evaluation and certification, including international security standards, e.g. Common Criteria or ITSEC; - Human aspects of security mechanisms in electronic voting and in particular of verifiability mechanisms; - Or any other security and HCI issues relevant to electronic voting. Track on Administrative, Legal, Political and Social Issues Chairs: Solvak, Mihkel (University of Tartu, Estonia) and Germann, Micha (University of Bath, United Kingdom) - Discuss legal, political and social issues of electronic voting implementations, ideally employing case study methodology; - Analyze the interrelationship with, and the effects of electronic voting on democratic institutions and processes; - Assess the cultural impact of electronic voting on institutions, behaviours and attitudes of the Digital Era; - Discuss the administrative, legal, political and social risks of electronic voting; - How to draft electronic voting legislations; - Public administrations and the implementation of electronic voting; - Understandability, transparency, and trust issues in electronic voting; - Data protection issues; - Public interests vs. PPP (public private partnerships). Track on Election and Practical Experiences Chairs: Martin-Rozumilowicz, Beata (International Foundation for Electoral Systems, USA) and Hofer, Thomas (Objectif Securité, Switzerland) - Review developments in the area of applied electronic voting; - Report on experiences with electronic voting or the preparation thereof (including repots on development and implementation, case law, court decisions, legislative steps, public and political debates, election outcomes, etc.); Contributions in this track will be published in TUT press proceedings only. These experience and practical reports need not contain original research, but must be an accurate, complete and, where applicable, evidence-based account of the technology or system used. Submissions will be judged on quality of review and level of analysis, and the applicability of the results to other democracies. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Track on Posters and E-Voting System Demo Chair: Glondu, Stéphane (Institut National de Recherche en Sciences et Technologies du Numérique, France) We invite demonstrations of electronic voting systems, to be presented in an open session on Tuesday 5 October. Participation is open to all conference participants, but we request a Short Paper (two pages) by 15 September submitted via Easychair describing the system’s requirements and properties, such as: - whether the system is intended for use in controlled (i.e. in polling stations) or uncontrolled environments (i.e. remotely via the Internet or in kiosks); - which types of elections it accommodates; - whether it addresses the needs of voters with disabilities; - what sort of verifiability it provides; - the extent to which it guarantees vote privacy; - whether it has been deployed in a real election; - where to go for more information. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PhD Colloquium Chairs: Krivonosova, Iuliia (Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia), Zollinger, Marie Laure (University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg). The goal of the colloquium is to foster understanding and collaboration between PhD students from various disciplines working on e-voting. To this end, the program allows plenty of space for discussion and initiating collaboration based on presentations by attendees. Each interested participant should submit his/her research proposal (or alternatively ideas for papers, open problems, or other issues where feedback from colleagues would be helpful etc.) on the shaper of a short paper (two pages length) using the conference platform. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Format of the Conference The format of the conference is a three-day meeting. The PhD Colloquium and Demo Session take places on the day before the formal conference begins. No parallel sessions will be held, and sufficient space will be given for informal communication. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paper Submission Paper submissions can be in two formats—either as a full paper or an abstract. - Full paper submissions (max 16 pages in LNCS format all-in); - Short Paper submissions (max 2 pages in LNCS format all-in). All submissions will be subject to double-blind reviews. Submissions must be anonymous (with no reference to the authors). Submissions are to be made using the EasyChair conference system at https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=evoteid2021, which serves as the online system for the review process. During submission, please select the appropriate track or the PhD colloquium. The track chairs reserve the right to re-assign papers to other tracks in case of better fit based on reviewer feedback and in coordination with other track chairs. LNCS style has to be used (see the Springer guidelines at http://www.springer.com/gp/computer-science/lncs/conference-proceedings-gui…, including templates for LaTeX and Microsoft Word). If you think that one or more of the programme committee members could have a conflict of interest with your submission, please let the general chairs know at conferencechairs(a)e-vote-id.org. In turn, according settings in the EasyChair system will be set, so that the respective member/s is/are not involved in the review process. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key Dates for Submissions Deadline for submission of papers for the Track on Security, Usability and Technical Issues and the Track on Administrative, Legal, Political and Social Issues (Hawaiian time, hard deadline, no extension): 15 May 2021 – 23:59 Notification of Acceptance: 24 June 2021 Deadline for submission of papers for the Track on Election and Practical Experiences and the PhD Colloquium: 10 July 2021 Deadline for Camera-ready Paper Submissions: 24 July 2021 Deadline for Poster Submission and Short Papers for E-Voting System Demo Session: 15 September 2021 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Publication The conference proceedings will be available at the time of the conference. Full papers accepted for the tracks on security, usability, and technical issues, respective administrative, legal, political, and social issues will be published in Springer LNCS. All other accepted publications, including full papers in the election experience track, accepted abstracts in any of the tracks, and from the submissions in the PhD colloquium will be published in proceedings with Taltech Press. In case your academic host institution requires you to publish your research as open-access only, please contact the conference chairs for further information in which way it is intended to make accepted publications accessible. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Programme Committee General Chairs Krimmer, Robert (University of Tartu, EE) Volkamer, Melanie (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, DE) Duenas-Cid, David (Kozminski University, PL) Track Chairs Track on Security, Usability, and Technical Issues Kulyk, Oksana (IT University of Copenhagen, DK) Rønne, Peter (Univeresity of Luxembourg, LU) Track on Elections and Practical Experiences Martin-Rozumilowicz, Beata (IFES, US) Hofer, Thomas (Objectif Securité, CH) Track on Administrative, Legal, Political, and Social Issues Solvak, Mihkel (University of Tartu, EE) Germann, Micha (University of Bath, UK) PhD Colloquium Krivonosova, Iuliia (Tallinn University of Technology, EE) Zollinger, Marie Laure (University of Luxembourg, LU) Outreach Chairs Rønne, Peter (University of Luxembourg, LU) Krivonosova, Iuliia (Tallinn University of Technology, EE) Track on Security, Usability, and Technical Issues Programme Committee Araujo, Roberto (Universidade Federal do Pará, BR) Beckert, Bernhard (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, DE) Benaloh, Josh (Microsoft Research, US) Bernhard, Matthew (Univerity of Michigan, US) Blanchard, Enka (Université de Lorreine, FR) Budurushi, Jurlind (Cloudical Deutschland GmbH, DE) Clark, Jeremy (Concordia University, CA) Cortier, Véronique (INRIA-LORIA, FR) Dragan, Constantin Catalin (University of Surrey, UK) Essex, Aleksander (Western University, CA) Gibson, Paul (Telecom SudParis, FR) Giustolisi, Rosario (IT University Copenhagen, DK) Gjosteen, Kristian (NTNU Trondheim, NO) Goré, Rajeev (Australian National University, AU) Grimm, Rüdiger (University of Koblenz, DE) Haenni, Rolf (Bern University of Applied Science, CH) Haines, Thomas (Polyas, DK) Kremer, Steve (INRIA, FR) Kuesters, Ralf (University of Stuttgart, DE) Müller, Johannes (University of Luxembourg, LU) Naumann, Stephan (Darmstadt Technical University, DE) Pereira, Olivier (UC Louvain, BE) Ryan, Peter Y.A. (University of Luxembourg, LU) Schneider, Steve (University of Surrey, UK) Schoenmakers, Berry (University of Amsterdam, NL) Schürmann, Carsten (IT University Copenhagen, DK) Teague, Vanessa (University of Melbourne, AU) Truderung, Tomasz (Polyas, DE) Wen, Roland (UNSW Sydney, AU) Willemson, Jan (Cybernetica, EE) Zagorski, Filip (Wroclaw University of Technology, PL) Track on Administrative, Legal, Political and Social Issues Programme Committee Aranyossy, Marta (Corvinus University, HU) Barrat, Jordi (EVOL2 – eVoting Research Lab, ES) Dandoy, Régis (Universidad San Francisco de Quito, EC) Darnolf, Staffan (IFES, US) Eenma-Dimitrieva, Helena (University of Tartu, EE) Goodman, Nicole (University of Toronto, CA) Kersting, Norbert (University of Münster, DE) Musiał-Karg, Magdalena (Adam Mickiewicz University, PL) Nemaslaki, András (Budapest University of Technology and Economics, HU) Nurmi, Hannu (University of Turku, FI) Pammett, Jon (University of Carleton, CA) Reniu, Josep Maria (University of Barcelona, ES) Sasvari, Peter (National University of Public Service, HU) Serdült, Uwe (Ritsumeikan University, JP) Soares, Delfina (UNU-EGOV, PT) Vinkel, Priit (National Election Commission, EE) Track on Election and Practical Experience Programme Committee Bismark, David (Votato, SE) Boyce, Stephen (IFES, US) Bull, Christian (Telenor, NO) Caarls, Susanne (Independent Expert, NL) Catozzi, Gianpiero (EC-UNDP, BE) Chanussot, Thomas (Independent Expert, FR) Driza Maurer, Ardita (Independent Expert, CH) Egger, Philipp (State Chancellery of St. Gallen, CH) Franklin, Joshua (OutStack, US) Leclère, Olivier (State of Geneva, CH) Loeber, Leontine (Council of State, NL) Macias, Ryan (Independent Expert, US) McDermott, Ronan (Independent Expert, CH) Misev, Vladimir (Senior Election Advisor - OSCE/ODIHR, PL) Past, Liisa (Chief National Cyber Risk Officer, EE) Petrov, Goran (Independent Expert, MK) Plante, Stephanie (University of Ottawa, CA) Spycher, Oliver (Federal Chancellery, CH) Vollan, Kåre (Quality AS, NO) Yard, Mike (Independent Expert, US) -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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