Tangara calls for end to threats posed by artificial intelligence

“Adapting to new technologies presents risks and threats coming from malign actors that have access to sophisticated platforms to propagate information detrimental to our already consolidated democratic gains and growth,” said Foreign Minister Tangara who was speaking on Monday, March 18th, 2024 in Seoul, South Korea, at the Ministerial Conference held before the Third Summit for Democracy where he delivered a speech on AI/Digital Technology and Democracy.

“Developing states with less sophisticated infrastructure, capacity, and resources required the cooperation and collaboration with developed states to collectively fight to end AI threats to democracy,” he said, while recognising the immense benefits of AI especially in promoting human rights and ensuring democratic participation.

Foreign Minister Tangara enjoined the developed world to collaborate with the developing countries in at least five key areas, including building strong public AI digital infrastructure and oversight bodies; building synergies between states, public and private institutions on the value chain; providing capacity-building training for developing states to counter the existential threats to democratic processes; and sharing data in order to deter threats.

"The increasing threats of malicious information spreading through poorly regulated platforms have generated profound discord amongst different communities, and continue to erode positive public perceptions of the existing democratic institutions,” he said.

The Gambia, he added, supports the strengthening of common positions in addressing complex challenges of new technologies in her capacity as a Member State of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC).

He said that in August 2022, The Gambia chaired a Session on “Emerging Technologies and New Media: Impact on Democratic Governance, Peace and Security in Africa”. Minister Tangara intimated that The Gambia as Chair for the Month of the Peace and Security Council called for concerted efforts with the private sector actors to mitigate the threats posed by new technologies on democracy, peace and security, and to ensure that Africa is not left behind in the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR).

Minister Tangara used the opportunity to extend gratitude to His Excellency Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and the Government of the Republic of Korea for his leadership and support for democracy in The Gambia during his able chairmanship of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) in 2016.

He commended member countries for efforts employed in building better cooperation and collaboration between states and relevant public and private institutions with a view to respecting and protecting all rights.

He assured of The Gambia’s committed partnership as we look forward to an initiative that is solution driven to Counter Digital Threats to Democratic Processes, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies whilst respecting and promoting rights for innovation as well as upholding online freedom.

The Ministerial Conference was chaired by His Excellency Cho Tae-yul Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and attended by The Honourable Anthony Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States of America, Her Excellency Ms. Maria Sommerfeid, Foreign Minister of Ecuador, The Honourable Hugh Hilton Todd, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Her Excellency Retno Marsudi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, His Excellency Kamikawa Yoko, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Her Excellency Vera Jourova, Vice President of the European Commission.

Minister Tangara also had a bilateral meeting with his South Korean counterpart on the margins of the Ministerial Conference. The two Ministers applauded the growth in the bilateral engagements and cooperation between The Gambia and South Korea and agreed to the further consolidation of the fraternal ties between the two countries.