Regional conference on human rights in digital age hosted in Cyprus

A regional conference on “Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age and in Social Media”, took place on Thursday in the coastal town of Paphos.

The conference addressed the issue of the protection of human rights in the digital age, focusing on the right to privacy and protection against the misuse of personal data by companies and governments and the dangers posed by fake news.

The conference was co-organised by the Office of the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights, the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

According to an official press release, Maria Stylianou – Lottides, Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights, referred to the critical challenge of safeguarding human rights in the digital age, especially in the field of social media.

She underlined the need for a multi-stakeholder approach involving governments, technology companies and civil society to create a balanced digital environment
that protects rights and promotes free expression.

Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nikodemos Damianou, referred to the rapid technological developments, especially in the Metaverse, Artificial Intelligence and digital services, as well as their profound effects on society. He noted that while these innovations offer opportunities for better access to education, health care and business, they also create significant challenges, including breaches of privacy, misinformation and discrimination.

Damianou underlined the need for governments and policy makers to ensure that human rights and ethical standards are respected online, just as they are offline.

Addressing the conference, President of the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen Peter Svetina called for a collaborative, multilateral approach to ensure that the digital world protects freedom, equality and dignity, empowers vulnerable groups and protects human rights.

Source: Cyprus News Agency