IGF 2020 OF #42 Personal Sovereignty: Digital Trust in the Algorithmic Age

Time
Friday, 6th November, 2020 (19:30 UTC) - Friday, 6th November, 2020 (20:30 UTC)
Room
Room 2
About this Session
This session will explore dimensions of the challenges and opportunities in identifying innovative approaches to promote and use technologies for sustainable development. It will address how the shared goal of sustainable development can be realized by harnessing technologies, while at the same time minimizing their disruptive and adverse effects.
Organization's Website
https://ieee.org
Subtheme

Trust

Issue(s)

Child Rights
Data governance
Digital Sovereignty

Panel - Auditorium - 60 Min

Description

In the wake of COVID-19 an erroneous dialogue has appeared in multiple governmental and global environments comparing the supposed tensions between privacy and protection in stemming the spread of the coronavirus disease. However, where it is assumed citizens need to give up location, biometric or medical data based on governmental or advertising based surveillance to combat the spread of COVID, key human rights may be violated as what is "best for society" to move beyond this crisis.

It is time for the advent of Personal Sovereignty -- when the digital environment serves to enhance human interests (of humans and their meaningful groupings). By creating tools for citizens, such as data governance frameworks and machine readable privacy terms for all, society can evolve the logic of a physical passport to a digital framework where people can be placed at the center of their data. Beginning with children to strengthen GDPR and Privacy by Design focused legislation, the creation of such tools allow individuals (or their caregivers) to better understand and influence the collection and use of their (or their children’s) data, as well as access and meaningfully curate and share their data as they choose. While people may still be tracked by advertising or government surveillance oriented tools, Personal Sovereignty provides all humans with their digital voice at an algorithmic level to face the future as empowered and proactive participants in digital democracy.

This proposed Open Forum session will provide an introduction to the mature and extended suite of currently available technologies, communities and standards that can be used to empower Personal Sovereignty to become ubiquitous in the age of the algorithm.

Citing examples from IEEE’s Digital Inclusion, Identity, Trust, and Agency program and many of IEEE’s volunteers, collaborators and contributing organizations to deal with COVID and beyond, and recommendations from The IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems, this session will also provide an introduction to current efforts regarding protecting children's data and creating trustworthy experiences. It will feature discussion on the nature of data, Artificial Intelligence and ethics, as well as provide insights into the human-side of broad data-collection, sharing and use, and consequences of failure to consider the diverse users. This session will feature an interactive Q&A among the lead discussants and the participants centering on trust to gain diverse perspectives on what the future of trust in the algorithmic age looks like.

Organizers

IEEE

Speakers

Mr. John Havens, IEEE

Ms. Moira Patterson, IEEE

Dr. Salma Abbasi, eWorldwide Group

Onsite Moderator
Moira Patterson, IEEE
Online Moderator
Constance Weise, IEEE
Rapporteur
Kristin Little, IEEE
SDGs

GOAL 3: Good Health and Well-Being
GOAL 10: Reduced Inequalities
GOAL 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Background Paper
1. Key Policy Questions and related issues
During Covid-19, we have seen how digital technologies have been a lifeline for many people in very different situations and around the world. What is your key message about personal sovereignty, digital identity, and data governance?
Do you see any changes that are needed in how we fundamentally approach technology development and think about solving problems?
What do you view as an important technology or development that you think will impact (and enable) personal sovereignty and our online / offline experiences?
2. Summary of Issues Discussed

Panelists agreed about:

 

  1. Data is a commodity and is generated and, therefore, owned by us, the individual. As such, we have to demand our rights. Trust has to be earned.
  2. Enforceable laws are needed, and the general public has to think about how it will give its data to companies. People need to know what is happening to their data, and governments need to protect the people. 
  3. The need for collective effort on the part of governments, the private sector, civil society, and the technical community to [achieve] personal sovereignty.
  4. Data must be seen and owned by us and used with our permission, supported by enforceable laws to help us. 
  5. Standards can play a critical role in scaling solutions; including in empowering people, in helping to create digital literacy frameworks, which help empower people with the necessary skills. 
  6. Human dignity needs to be at the core of our thinking whereby the technology should serve people's needs and their communities. 
  7. It is possible for companies to build customer trust within a model of data sovereignty. 
  8. Consumer data use that leaves out individuals who do not fit into set profiles is a concern. 
  9. IEEE and IGF are excellent fora in which to discuss the topic of child online protection.
3. Key Takeaways
  1. All actors, including governments, the private sector, the technical community, and civil society, must work together collaboratively to create tools for citizens, such as data governance frameworks and machine readable privacy terms for all, to place citizens at the center of their data and to empower them to advocate for their personal sovereignty.
  2. AI is being used to measure trends for business, but analysis of trends in health or trends in humanitarian issues will not happen unless driven by citizens. One such issue is child online protection, and the panelists agreed that IEEE and the IGF are excellent fora in which to discuss the topic.
  3. IEEE helps to educate about the crucial role of standards in helping to create these ecosystems and tools for citizens: Standards are building blocks that can make best practices more accessible to all actors in society. 
  4. Currently available technologies, along with related IEEE communities and standards, can be used to empower Personal Sovereignty to become ubiquitous in the age of the algorithm.
4. Policy Recommendations or Suggestions for the Way Forward
What policy sector(s) does this fall under? (leave blank if not sure)
Technical
Overarching governance issues
Issue and Recommendation
A model of data sovereignty, built collaboratively by all relevant actors, is needed to create digital literacy frameworks - such as machine readable privacy terms - that serve to build trust among all stakeholders. Every individual or entity is invited to participate in IEEE’s standardization work: As a global, consensus building standards development body, the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) is committed to increasing trust in the specific sector of A/IS and their underlying and related technologies: Through appropriate standards and other consensus-built products that contribute to transparency, education at all levels of expertise, technical community building and partnerships across regions and nations, thus serving humanity. IEEE offers a process that provides an opportunity for all stakeholders to participate in an open and transparent manner on the key issues, and to work together, in a consensus-driven process, to develop tangible and actionable resources and programs.
Who should take it?
Governments and the private sector
What policy sector(s) does this fall under? (leave blank if not sure)
Overarching governance issues
Issue and Recommendation
Society can evolve the logic of a physical passport to a digital framework where people can be placed at the center of their data. The creation of privacy by design-focused legislation allows individuals (or their caregivers) to better understand and influence the collection and use of their (or their children’s) data. This alleviates the current lack of data sovereignty tools, such as data governance frameworks and machine readable privacy terms for all, and empowers citizens to access, curate, and share their data as they choose.
Who should take it?
Government and the private sector
5. Other Initiatives Addressing the Session Issues
Initiative
Digital Inclusion, Identity, Trust, and Agency:
https://standards.ieee.org/industry-connections/diita/index.html
Driving innovation by identifying technology solutions that enable all to participate online without barriers and building consensus in the market

The IEEE Global Initiative on Artificial and Intelligent Systems: https://standards.ieee.org/industry-connections/ec/autonomous-systems.html
Its mission is to ensure every stakeholder involved in the design and development of autonomous and intelligent systems is educated, trained, and empowered to prioritize ethical considerations so that these technologies are advanced for the benefit of humanity.
IEEE Standards Association Statement of Intention:
https://standards.ieee.org/content/dam/ieee-standards/standards/web/documents/other/ethical-considerations-ai-as-29mar2018.pdf
IEEE’s Role in Addressing Ethical Considerations of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems (A/IS)
The Open Community for Ethics in Autonomous and Intelligent Systems (OCEANIS):
https://ethicsstandards.org
A Global Forum for discussion, debate and collaboration for organizations interested in the development and use of standards to further the development of autonomous and intelligent systems.

The Ethics Certification Program for Autonomous and Intelligent Systems (ECPAIS):
https://standards.ieee.org/industry-connections/ecpais.html
Developing metrics and processes towards the implementation of a certification methodology
addressing transparency, accountability, and algorithmic bias.
6. Final Speakers
  • John C. Havens, IEEE
  • Dr. Salma Abbasi, eWorldwide Group
  • Moira Patterson, IEEE
7. Reflection to Gender Issues

The IEEE Open Forum “Personal Sovereignty: Digital Trust in the Algorithmic Age” (#42) did not discuss gender issues as the focus was on digital trust and personal sovereignty. 

 

8. Session Outputs