UN Global Pulse is pleased to open the call for nominations for new members to the Expert Group on Governance of Data and AI, the deadline for which is 5 November 2019.
In 2014 UN Global Pulse established an informal Data Privacy Advisory Group comprising private sector, academia and civil society experts to inform its privacy and data protection guidelines and strategies.
Last year, the UN Secretary-General’s Strategy on New Technologies has called for the responsible adoption of AI and other frontier technologies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and the 2030 Agenda. In addition, the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation has underlined “the urgent need to examine how time-honoured human rights frameworks and conventions should guide digital cooperation and digital technology” calling for “society-wide conversations about the boundaries, norms and shared aspirations for the uses of digital technologies, including complicated issues like privacy, human agency and security in order to achieve inclusive and equitable outcomes.”
In response, in 2019 UN Global Pulse expanded the Group to incorporate greater expertise in AI Ethics, with the goal of informing the UN’s work and related AI Ethics guidelines and strategies. The Group has therefore been renamed the UN Global Pulse Advisory Group on the Governance of Data and AI to reflect its current scope.
Global Pulse believes that engaging in purposeful discussion with experts and stakeholders with diverse expertise will unearth precedents, good practices, and strengthen the overall understanding of how privacy-protected and ethical use of data and AI can contribute to sustainable development, humanitarian action, and peace.
Members of the Group serve in their personal capacity and on a voluntary basis for approximately a one-year term, with the possibility of renewal, subject to terms established in the Terms of Reference (see below). Self-nominations are accepted.
General criteria:
- Individuals should have a professional record of accomplishment in areas related to data privacy, AI ethics and human rights;
- Nominees should understand, have basic knowledge of, or be willing to explore the implications of AI and machine learning in humanitarian, development and peace-building contexts;
- Individuals should have knowledge and understanding of the needs and interests of diverse groups of stakeholders, including in developing and least developed countries;
- Individuals shall be committed to the core values of the United Nations and the views expressed will not be considered as representing those of their organisations or affiliations;
- Submissions from women, and from developing and least developed countries are strongly encouraged;
- Selection of the candidates will ensure geographical, gender and expertise balance to enhance diversity and bring in new viewpoints.
Note that recommendations and feedback provided by members of the Advisory Group shall be based on members’ own field of expertise, and informed by generally accepted human rights principles and ethical standards, rather than by national laws.
The Advisory Group and its members do not represent the official views or opinions of Global Pulse or the United Nations.
Only nominees who are selected to be part of the 2019 / 2020 cohort will be contacted.
