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, and supports newsrooms to adopt AI.

About

In partnership with The Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, the ‘AI Ethics, Data and Digital Rights Accelerator’ brings together journalists 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.

In 2024, we expanded the programme to support newsrooms in East Africa and Latin America to strategically and ethically adopt AI.

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 programme 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.

The second phase of the Accelerator involves helping newsrooms to harness the benefits of AI across newsgathering and business practices, while ensuring that core journalistic values remain intact. By empowering newsrooms to leverage AI strategically, outlets will be equipped with a tool that supports their critical mission of informing the public and holding power to account.

Key highlights

The programme has so far trained more than 60 journalists, editors and CSOs from Argentina, Chile, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Uruguay, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We also sponsor journalist alumni of this training to attend relevant conferences, responding to an identified need to build their networks.

We are currently working with six newsrooms in East Africa and Latin America, supporting them to shape AI policies and adopt solutions that address business and editorial needs.

Our TrustLaw team has 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

Learn about our mission and what makes us different.

 

Our work

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

 

Partner with us

Discover our latest partnership opportunities and how to get involved in our work.