This project (2022-24) was a pilot study that sought to unlock new possibilities to broaden the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in the global debate and governance of AI, (big) data, and related digital technologies and applications. 

In collaboration with UNESCO’s Bioethics and Ethics of Science and Technology Section, the project’s goals included: 

(1) To develop a global, open-access online directory of CSOs that address the ethical, societal, and environmental dimensions of AI, and related data-intensive digital technologies. The repository will be published on UNESCO’s AI Ethics Observatory, a virtual knowledge sharing hub that is part of the organisation’s ongoing work on the ethics and global governance of AI, as laid out in the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.

(2) To facilitate the involvement of CSOs from around the world in UNESCO’s activities related to the implementation of the 2021 AI Recommendation, such as the roll-out and evaluation of the emerging AI Ethics Impact Assessment tool and AI Readiness Methodology. 

(3) Together with CSOs from different world regions: to collaboratively explore new options and strategies that can help to expand civil society engagement and participation of CSOs in the design, public assessment, debate, and governance of emerging AI applications.  

Funded by a UKRI QR Participatory grant, and co-funded by UNESCO, this project has informed, and laid the foundation for, the development of UNESCO's Global CSO and Academic Network on AI Ethics and Policy, which has been launched in 2025.

Project partners:

Dr. Achim Rosemann (PI, CFI, University of Cambridge; CCSR, De Montfort University)

Dr. Doaa Abu Elyounes (CI, UNESCO)

Prof. Emma Ruttkamp-Bloem (senior project advisor, University of Pretoria)

Dr. Gardon Dalton (senior project advisor, ICORSA and PLOCAN)