Press Release: Truth, Trust, and Hope in the Global Information Environment - IPIE Addresses Information Integrity at Two UNGA Events
September 13, 2024 – Zurich, Switzerland – As AI bias, climate misinformation, and online risks to children increase, the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) will host an official event at the UN during the Summit of the Future.
Truth, Trust, and Hope in the Global Information Environment will take place on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at UN Headquarters in New York.
The event brings together global leaders, scientists, and civil society to address information integrity. Experts will present findings on AI transparency and the impact of climate misinformation. With AI driving the spread of deepfakes and false narratives, there is a growing concern that unchecked AI could erode public trust and destabilize societies.
“We are at a crucial moment for society and the global information environment,” said IPIE President, Professor Philip Howard. “With global cooperation, we can prevent information technologies from degrading our ability to solve collective problems. Information integrity is essential for defending all other rights.”
AI Bias and Climate Misinformation in Focus
Co-chaired by Dr. Anna Sjöström Douagi, acting head of the Nobel Foundation and IPIE Trustee, and Ms. Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the event is supported by several UN Member States and key UN departments.
The IPIE scientific panels will focus on enhancing AI transparency and the integrity of climate-related information.
“As AI becomes more embedded in daily life, it must uphold human rights and accountability,” said Professor Wendy Chun, Chair of IPIE’s Scientific Panel on AI Audits. “This event is an opportunity to set global standards and counter AI misuse.”
A Call to Action for Information Integrity
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for coordinated international action to curb the spread of misinformation and hate speech. “At a time when billions of people are exposed to false narratives and lies, these principles lay out a clear path forward, rooted in human rights,” said Guterres. “We need governments, tech companies, and civil society to step up and take responsibility.”
The event will discuss the UN’s Global Principles for Information Integrity, addressing how these principles can support democracy and climate action.
“Climate misinformation isn’t just theoretical—it delays vital action,” said Professor Klaus Bruhn Jensen, an expert in climate science information. “Our ability to combat climate change hinges on reliable, science-based information.”
Expert Briefing: Trust and Resilience in the Information Environment
Following the UN event, IPIE will host a half-day briefing on Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at the CUNY Graduate Center in New York. Titled Trust and Resilience in the Global Information Environment, the session will present insights from the IPIE’s Expert Survey on the Global Information Environment.
IPIE will also announce new scientific panels, one on Child Protection and Social Media, and another on AI and Peacebuilding, with commentary from Safe Online, WHO, and UNDP colleagues.
Event Details
UN Panel on Truth, Trust, and Hope in the Global Information Environment:
- Saturday, September 21, 2024, 11:15 am to 12:30 pm at UN Headquarters (CR3).
- A UN grounds pass or Special Event Ticket is required.
- The event will be broadcast on UN TV.
Expert Briefing on Trust and Resilience in the Global Information Environment:
- Tuesday, September 24, 2024, 8:30 am to 1:00 pm at CUNY Graduate Center.
- Register on Eventbrite; limited capacity.
ENDS
Further details on the IPIE can be found on its website: www.IPIE.info.
For more information please contact Kathryn Chapman, Communications, Kathryn.Chapman@IPIE.info or Press@IPIE.info.
About the IPIE
The International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE) is an independent and global science organization committed to providing the most actionable scientific knowledge about threats to the world’s information environment. Based in Switzerland, the mission of the IPIE is to provide policymakers, industry, and civil society with independent scientific assessments on the global information environment by organizing, evaluating, and elevating research, with the broad aim of improving the global information environment. Hundreds of researchers from around the world contribute to the IPIE’s reports.