AI Ethics, Data and Digital Rights Accelerator

Launched in partnership with the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, this programme upskills journalists and civil society organisations to understand the promise and risks of AI. It includes training on legal and governance frameworks in participants’ jurisdictions.

About

In partnership with The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the ‘AI Ethics, Data and Digital Rights Accelerator’ brings together journalists, newsrooms and civil society organisations (CSOs) working in the fields of AI and Data and Digital Rights (DDR) across Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Throughout a series of multi-stakeholder training courses, participants connect with tech leaders and ethicists to explore the opportunities and human rights risks associated with the rapid development of AI across their region.

Overview

The Accelerator brings together cohorts of journalists and civil society to take part in training courses covering both AI ethics and DDR. The goal is to foster collaboration between these stakeholder groups, encouraging more accurate and comprehensive coverage of AI-related human rights issues in their regions.

Through the Foundation’s global pro bono legal service, TrustLaw, the project also supports Sub-Saharan African and Latin American CSOs to identify gaps in existing legislation and advocate for robust AI governance that safeguards human rights.

A second phase of the Accelerator will work with newsrooms in East Africa and Latin America to increase their understanding of and capacity to use AI to complement their daily news coverage.

Key highlights

Through the Accelerator, the Foundation has delivered training to over 40 journalists, editors and representatives of tech and human rights CSOs in East Africa and Latin America.

Our TrustLaw team has also facilitated several innovative legal research projects to help shape ethical practices in both regions. 

In Latin America, TrustLaw collaborated with Access Now on a legal research project, producing the first comparative guide on AI legal frameworks across the region. In East Africa, TrustLaw published a toolkit resource – “AI Governance for Africa,” which seeks to empower CSOs and journalists to inform public discourse, drive policy and regulatory change and advocate for ethical and responsible AI deployment in East African communities.

Training opportunities for journalists

Explore our range of capacity-building programmes for journalists.

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Our Impact

Kick-starting a new African AI, ethics and digital inclusion organisation

Building on insights from this training course, a group of civil society members and journalists have come together to set up the Southern African Digital Inclusion Alliance (SADIA) – a new regional AI ethics and digital rights organisation.

“We built networks, we shared ideas and then we started a movement that we hope will transform lives and really shape the future of digital literacy and AI in Africa.”

-Wendy Jasson da Costa

Chief Reporter at the South African Independent on Saturday & SADIA Co-Founder

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AI Governance for Africa toolkit series

This three-part toolkit series, first published in 2023 and revised in 2024, aims to empower journalists and civil society organisations to inform public discourse, drive policy and regulatory change and advocate for ethical and responsible AI deployment.

Access the toolkits
A man in a rustic airtime kiosk looks down at his phone, wearing large headphones. Greyscale, high contrast. Image by Aidah Namukose / ALT Advisory (CC BY-NC-ND).
Silhouettes of demonstrators are seen as they march around the Hungarian parliament to protest against Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the latest anti-LGBTQ law in Budapest, Hungary, June 14, 2021. REUTERS/Marton Monus TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

How this programme is funded

This programme is funded by the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation: tech-inspired global changemakers, optimists and visionaries advancing AI and data solutions to create a thriving, equitable, and sustainable future for all.

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About us

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Our work

Find out how we’re working to support independent journalism, strengthen access to the law and promote responsible business.

 

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