IGF 2024 WS #263 AI governance and internet governance: lessons from BRICS

    Organizer 1: Larissa Galdino de Magalhães Santos , Center Technology and Society, School of Law, Fundação Getúlio Vargas

    Speaker 1: Luca Belli, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    Speaker 2: Walter Britto Gaspar, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
    Speaker 3: Jai Vipra, Civil Society, Asia-Pacific Group

    Moderator

    Larissa Galdino de Magalhães Santos , Government, Intergovernmental Organization

    Online Moderator

    Luca Belli, Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)

    Rapporteur

    Larissa Galdino de Magalhães Santos , Government, Intergovernmental Organization

    Format

    Roundtable
    Duration (minutes): 90
    Format description: The debaters will briefly present the state of studies on BRICS, including cybersecurity, connectivity infrastructure, and digital governments, justifying the current focus on AI and digital public infrastructures. Next, each expert will present a factsheet on the state of AI (governance and national capabilities, fundamental human rights, sovereignty) for five minutes. Starting the second round, one debater will score criticisms and another debater will score questions, including online questions (according to the event's criteria); each expert will respond to the panelists with lessons learned and challenges for 30 minutes. In the third round, panelists will chime in with questions and comments to gain insights into how lessons from Internet governance and AI can support each other. With the open debate, participants will discuss how AI governance in the BRICS can support global governance.

    Policy Question(s)

    How are the BRICS countries approaching AI from the point of view of governance and national capacities? How are the BRICS countries approaching AI from the point of view of fundamental human rights? How are the BRICS countries approaching AI from the view of digital sovereignty? How can AI governance in the BRICS region support global governance?

    What will participants gain from attending this session? Develop a solid understanding of AI governance in BRICS. Analyze the challenges and potentials of responsible AI governance for realizing fundamental rights supported by solid-state capabilities. Learning from Internet Governance for AI Governance from the Perspective of International Efforts.

    Description:

    There is a global consensus that AI must be used responsibly so everyone can experience its benefits while avoiding the risks associated with social and economic inequalities. Fundamental rights are a cross-cutting issue for AI regulation. However, a geopolitical race on the global AI development scene is also intense and potentially divisive.
    While there are many uncoordinated and conflicting AI regulatory fields, the BRICS group of member countries may have the capacity to catalyze innovations and devise new terms on public digital infrastructures for AI, computing resources, data storage, and high-speed internet access.
    This workshop aims to explore how the BRICS are approaching AI from the point of view of governance and national capacities (policies, laws, technical standards, technology-specific regulation, investments, skills), fundamental human rights (equality, access to information, gender, children, non-discrimination, culture and linguistic diversity, labor market, etc.), and sovereignty (independence in approach and capabilities).
    The panel will have the contribution of an expert representing each BRICS country who will present a factsheet (criteria above) in the first round of debate; in the second round, each expert will present lessons learned and challenges, and the discussant will intervene to gain insights into how lessons from internet governance can support AI governance in the BRICS; followed by questions from the public; In the third round, participants will discuss how AI governance in the BRICS can support global governance in the following aspect: creating inclusive processes and discussion forums, in which civil society has a voice.

    Expected Outcomes

    The triple purpose of the CyberBRICS project aims to map existing regulations, identify good and bad practices and suggest policy solutions. In particular, the project aims to explore the conditions and reasons that led to “success stories” regarding
    digital transformation in BRICS countries. The project is based on the work developed since its inception beginning, regarding research results, strong international network and academic credibility. The workshop summarizes the work that has been developed by CyberBRICS. According to the activities of the 2024 work plan of the CyberBRICS project, namely artificial intelligence, digital industrial policy and regulation, with a particular focus on cloud computing and digital public infrastructures in BRICS. The audience will understand how AI governance in the BRICS can support global governance in the following aspect.

    Hybrid Format: As the experts are fellows of the CyberBRICS program, the debaters have significant knowledge of the way their colleagues work and approach. This will make it easier to keep time, organize the dynamics, and ensure that all relevant questions and issues are addressed. In addition, the fellows are producing an extensive mapping of AI in nine blocks. We will use Zoom and FGV's support team to guarantee the transmission quality and the reception of questions.