The Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) has made a submission to the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Opinion and Expression. This contribution is aimed at the upcoming thematic report on freedom of expression and elections in the digital age.
According to CDT, "Protecting freedom of expression is critical to ensuring access to the ballot." They note that while new technologies can increase risks to free expression, regulatory and corporate interventions may also pose threats if not managed with transparency, robust testing, and independent data access.
In their submission, CDT discusses several key issues:
- The risks posed by government regulation of AI-generated content and the necessity for further research into labeling.
- Election integrity measures by companies. CDT highlights instances where inadequate or inconsistent enforcement of policies hinders individuals' rights to vote and express themselves, particularly affecting historically marginalized groups.
- The impact of limited transparency and restricted data access on research and policymaking. This issue is compounded as research about the information space becomes more politicized.
- Recommendations for how companies and stakeholders can support election integrity while respecting freedom of opinion and expression.
The full details of this submission are available through CDT's publication.
