International Conference of Ombudspersons - "Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age and on Social Media"
On September 26, 2024, First Deputy Public Defender of Georgia Tamar Gvaramadze participated in the international conference - "Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age and on Social Media", which was held in the city of Paphos (Republic of Cyprus).
The event was attended by ombudspersons of different countries, heads of national human rights institutions, mediators, as well as representatives of various structures and scientific circles of the Council of Europe and the European Union.
Issues were discussed in three panels at the conference. At the first panel, participants discussed new international mechanisms for the regulation of artificial intelligence across the Council of Europe and the European Union. At the second panel, ombudspersons from different countries and representatives of mediator institutions shared their experience - how they use artificial intelligence and digital technologies to increase the effectiveness of their activities and what challenges they face in this regard. The last panel of the conference, chaired by Tamar Gvaramadze, concerned the impact of artificial intelligence and technology on freedom of speech and expression, the right to assembly, and the right to vote.
In her opening remarks, Tamar Gvaramadze noted: "The issues discussed at the conference are once again a clear proof that artificial intelligence is a real threat to both the protection of personal data and the realization of many other fundamental rights; And it can become an obstacle not only to human rights, but also to democratic stability and the rule of law."
On September 25, 2024, Tamar Gvaramadze attended the meeting of the governing board of the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM) and the extraordinary meeting of the Association.
The conference was co-organized by the Ombudsman of Cyprus and the Association of Mediterranean Ombudsmen (AOM) and was supported by the Council of Europe.