Skopje, 18 June 2024 (MIA) – Digital management, privacy and data protection, online disinformation, violent extremism and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) is in the focus of the Internet Freedom Meet, organized by the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) in Skopje on June 18-20. 

The event brings together digital rights and freedom experts from all relevant fields as well as experts from institutions dedicated to internet-related policies. They will include government officials, civil society representatives, digital rights activists, academics, journalists and technology and internet policy enthusiasts from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia, BIRN Macedonia Director Ana Petrusheva said.

“Today, we begin with representatives of agencies for the protection of the right to privacy and data. Also, there will be discussions on responsible AI, about election processes in the era of disinformation, filming and violation of the right to privacy as regards the installment of CCTV in the cities and on many other topics, which are of high importance, but unfortunately aren’t placed very high on the agenda in our societies,” stated Petrusheva ahead of the opening of this year’s BIRN internet freedom meet. 

She said she hoped the event will help raise awareness and inspire journalists to investigate this topic more often. 

Speaking to reporters ahead of the event, EU Ambassador David Geer said we live in a world where digital transformation has been offering huge opportunities and benefits alongside multitude of challenges.

“This conference is an opportunity to look at the media world and the challenges introduced by digitization, be it disinformation, cyber-attacks, online bulling and a whole range of issues,” he stated.

Geer said it is a good thing that many journalists are attending the event to discuss what needs to be done and how to make sure there are benefits from the digital world and how we can be protected from the negative sides in the digital context.

“Challenges are everywhere, in the EU as well, which is why we changed the legislation recently in the EU, protection in North Macedonia and in the region should improve,” said the EU diplomat noting there are challenges everywhere better protection of these rights should be ensured.

BIRN has been continuously following violation of digital rights, including but not limited to hate speech, disinformation, privacy violation, violence against the minorities, removal of contents, cyber-attacks, etc. 

The network has been preparing annual reports and recommendations aimed at improving policies and efforts involving digital rights and freedom. 

The activities are designed to include other local media from the Western Balkan region in reporting about digital rights by providing training and grants. 

Photo: MIA