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Technology and Digital Rights: �Nurturing an Inclusive Digital Future

2023.12.9

Kilnam Chon

Digital Freedom Summit, Kathmandu 2023.9.13rev11.13

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Digital Rights for Connected World at 2023 IGF booth

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Table of Contents

  1. Internet 🡪 Digital 🡪 AI-based Digital
  2. Notable Cases around the World

2.1 Face Recognition, USA

2.2 *Pay, China

2.3 Digital ID (Aadhaar), India

  1. Digital Transformation (DX)

Digital Transformation of Business 🡪 Digital Transformation of Society

  1. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Basic Income as Digital Right (or Fair Distribution)?

  1. Low-Earth Orbital Satellite Constellation

6. Remarks

References

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1. Internet 🡪 Digital 🡪 AI-based Digital

  • Digital Computers and Internet from the 20th Century
  • Digital Technologies from the late 20th century

- Internet

- Data

- Social Media

- Artificial Intelligence (AI)

  • AI-based Digital Technologies in the 21st century

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2. Notable Cases

2.1 Face Recognition, Airports, USA

When a passenger goes through the immigration counter for Global Entry upon

arrival, the passenger goes through without papers, the counter took a picture

for face recognition followed by checking the passenger’s database.

2.2 *Pay, China

Electric payment systems (AliPay, WeChatPay) in China dominate the world.

2.3 Digital ID (Aaadhaar), India

Aadhaar in India is the world largest digital ID system (1.2 billion users).

Other Cases:

USA (Social Security Number, Driving License/Personal ID)

South Korea (Residence Registration Number)

Japan (My Number Card)

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3. Digital Transformation

  • Digital Transformation (DX) started in business sector first.
  • Organizations in public sector are following the business sector on implementation of the digital transformation.
  • How do we facilitate minorities; aged, handicapped?

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4. Basic Income as (one of ) Digital Rights?

  • AI will add Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by ~20% by ~2040.

  • Who get the 20%?

“Winner takes all; Countries, Companies” or � “Fair distribution” such as “Basic income”.

Remark: Effort to make “Digital Pie” bigger.

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5. Low-Earth Orbital (LEO) Satellite Constellation

  • Satellite constellations could solve some of Internet access problems in many areas including the Himalayan region.
  • Any deployment plans?

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6. Remarks

A. “Winner takes all”

B. “Don’t change if it works.”

C. Digital Rights

- Implement properly, especially “AI-based digital rights”.

- May make “pie” bigger as this could solve some of the problems.

D. “How do we balance rights, technology, and the regulatory frameworks?”

E. Generative AI

Plan to write my next book, Asia Internet History, 2020s with Generative AI.

F. Internet Shutdown

Internet shutdowns are increasingly common around the world.

G. Internet 🡪 Digital Space 🡪 AI-based Digital Space

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References

Yoshua Benjio, Democracy is not safe in an AI world, YouTube, 2023.

Center for Human Rights & Global Justice, Putting Profit Before Welfare, 2023.

Kilnam Chon, AI - Next Step, 2023.

Kilnam Chon, AI is here now, Keynote Speech, Wuzhen Summit, WIC, 2023.11.

Kilnam Chon, et al., Asia Internet History, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, 2020s.

EU, 2023 Report on the State of Digital Decade, 2023.9.27.

IGF, Kyoto, 2023.

Nishan Dialogue, WIC (World Internet Conference), 2023.6.

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Digital Rights vs Artificial Intelligence

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