TECH DIGEST- In commemoration of the second anniversary of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, the United Nations body has issued a compelling call for governments worldwide to expedite the incorporation of this ethical standard. This appeal was emphasized during a high-profile media briefing held this week, shedding light on both the advancements achieved and the looming challenges that demand global attention.

While AI technologies offer manifold benefits across various sectors, the absence of robust ethical frameworks poses a significant threat. Unchecked, these technologies risk perpetuating real-world biases and discrimination, potentially undermining fundamental human rights and freedoms. To safeguard against such risks, governments are urged to establish optimal frameworks, institutions, and skill sets.

The UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, adopted in November 2021, marked a groundbreaking consensus among all Member States. This international agreement marked a pivotal moment, providing a definitive guide on how AI should be designed and utilized to positively impact individuals while respecting their human rights.

Over the past two years, UNESCO has played a pivotal role in championing the widespread implementation of AI ethics, achieving noteworthy progress across all global regions. In a press briefing, a distinguished panel of experts will outline the recent strides made, emphasizing the critical need for governments to expedite AI regulation. The experts will further underscore the imperative to intensify efforts in mitigating the potential risks posed by AI. Journalists are invited to gain insights into this crucial discussion, shedding light on the ongoing global efforts to shape the ethical landscape of artificial intelligence.

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TECHDIGEST– Britain’s financial regulator on Thursday tightened rules over the promotion and selling of cryptocurrency as it seeks to protect consumers.

The Financial Conduct Authority unveiled a package of measures for the industry, which has long faced criticism over the lack of oversight — and promises of high returns in a volatile marketplace.

Under the new rules, companies promoting crypto products or services in Britain must from October give a “clear warning” that customers could lose money in “high-risk” investments.

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Marketing firms must also introduce a cooling-off period for first-time crypto investors.

And the watchdog will also ban “refer a friend” bonuses that are designed to incentivise crypto investing.

“Our rules give people the time and the right risk warnings to make an informed choice,” said Sheldon Mills, head of consumers and competition at the FCA.

The announcement comes after Britain introduced legislation earlier this year to bring crypto promotions under the scope of the FCA.

UK lawmakers are also demanding that crypto investments in Britain be regulated, in much the same way as the country’s gambling industry.

Reacting to the FCA announcement, the director of operations at industry group CryptoUK, Su Carpenter, said the new rules could prevent fresh entrants.

“There is a risk that this solution will both unfairly concentrate market power for those firms which are already authorised and potentially encourage unauthorised firms to operate from outside of the UK,” Carpenter said.

That could, in turn, create “a competitive disadvantage for UK-based organisations and also potentially undermining consumer safeguards”, she added in a statement.

The FCA clampdown follows moves toward tighter regulation in the United States.

The Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday sued crypto platform Coinbase, charging that the largest US digital currency trading platform made billions of dollars by “unlawfully facilitating the buying and selling of crypto asset securities”.

The SEC has this week also unveiled charges against Coinbase peer Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao for numerous alleged securities law violations.

The news follows the spectacular failure of crypto exchange giant FTX in November, stoking concern over a market dubbed by some critics as the “Wild West”.

AFP

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TECHDIGEST- According to the US Justice Department, 55 websites have been taken down for illegitimately live-streaming games from the World Cup in Qatar.

According to a statement from the department, the websites were taken down after a FIFA representative discovered them to be used to transmit copyright-violating information without FIFA’s consent. The World Cup, which is in the semifinal round, is the sole property of FIFA.

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By Abbas Badmus

“While many may believe that such websites do not constitute serious threats, the infringement upon rights holders of any intellectual property is a growing threat to our economic viability,” said special agent James Harris of the Homeland Security Department.

The Justice Department did not specify the websites that had been taken down, but it did state that anyone who visited them would be taken to another website for more details.

“The impact can be felt across multiple industries, and it can be the conduit to other forms of criminal activity,” Harris said.

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TECHDIGEST  – Prime Minister Boris Johnson is launching a new £20m (about N10.88 billion) business partnership as the UK continues to lead global efforts to improve girls’ access to education in developing countries.

Even before the Covid – 19 pandemic, millions of children did not have any access to school – and girls from disadvantaged families are particularly vulnerable to missing out on education, whether through poverty or prejudice.

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The pandemic has created even more barriers to education, with a peak of 1.6 billion children around the world having faced school closures.

In the UK’s first education partnership of its kind, the UK Government is joining forces with the private sector to boost girls’ access to education in developing countries.

Partners include Accenture, BP, Cognizant, Coursera, Microsoft, Pearson, PwC, Standard Chartered, Unilever, United Bank for Africa and Vodafone.

The UK Government will be working in partnership with UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited (GenU) to help deliver the programme, with key partners funding GenU being Accenture, Microsoft, Standard Chartered, Unilever, and United Bank of Africa.

On 7 March, a reception was held at No10 Downing Street to mark the announcement ahead of the 8 March 2022 International Women’s Day.

UK Govt in New N10.88b Global Partnership to Educate Girls around the World

The event was attended by partners including: Jill Huntley, Global Managing Director, Corporate Citizenship at Accenture; Dr Betty Vandenbosch, Chief Content Officer at Coursera and Marissa Thomas, Chief Operating Officer at PwC.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said:

“The United Kingdom has long been a proud and mighty champion of this fundamental cause and today we take one leap further through our first Global Partnership of its kind – opening the opportunity for one million girls across the developing world to have access to high quality skills training.

“Ensuring every girl and young woman across the globe receives 12 years of quality education is the greatest tool in our armoury to end the world’s great injustices.

“Delivering on this mission will be one of the best defences against ignorance, ensure the greatest protection from prejudice and put a rocket booster behind our hopes and dreams for global development in the years to come.”

Businesses, charities, schools and colleges will shortly be able to bid for funds from the programme. The partnership wants to support projects that will improve access to education for girls, with a focus on providing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills needed to find work in key sectors such as technology and manufacturing. This could include funding new skills training programmes, improving teaching or redesigning training to make it more relevant to business needs.

Initially bids will be encouraged for projects in Nigeria and Bangladesh, two countries where significant barriers to girls’ education remain.

Funding from the programme will also help expand GenU’s `Passport to Earning’ (P2E) platform. This digital skills platform will provide girls with free, certified education and skills training which they can then use to support future employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

UNICEF’s precursor to P2E was listed among Time Magazine’s 100 Best Inventions of 2021.

Some of the businesses involved will be contributing a range of resources including books, computers and other technology, mentors, advice and access to their networks, skills and training programmes.

The private sector involvement will help ensure that education and learning opportunities provide girls with the skills for the future that employers need.

The UK is playing a leading global role to improve girls’ education in developing countries. During the UK’s G7 Presidency last year it secured agreement to help get an additional 40 million girls into school by 2026; and secondly to help 20 million girls to learn to read by the age of 10 by 2026.

In 2021, the UK hosted a successful Global Education Summit, which raised $4 billion in pledges from world leaders to support schools through the Global Partnership for Education. Between 2015 and 2020, the UK supported at least 15.6 million children in developing countries to gain a decent education, including 8.1 million girls.

he said they have already seen considerable success with similar skills programmes such as the Alternative Learning Program (ALP) in Bangladesh.

This involved training up marginalised young girls with the skills they needed to be able to secure jobs within demand sectors, which gave these young girls more economic, social and personal freedom. As a result, the programme saw a 62% reduction in child marriage among the girls and families involved.

Similarly, the ‘Educate!’ programme across Uganda and Rwanda has provided industry-specific (agriculture and tourism) sessions for girls, as well as sessions to boost their literacy skills. This programme saw a 120% increase in income among the female participants.

Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said:

“Supporting women and girls is at the heart of UK foreign policy. We want women to have agency over their own lives and to be free to succeed.

“Investing in girls’ education is vital for a more sustainable, peaceful and prosperous future. That’s why we are partnering with the private sector to help girls in developing countries access education and job opportunities.”

Helen Grant, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for Girls’ Education said:

“Every girl everywhere deserves to have an education.

“From school right the way through to the workplace, our partnership will help give women and girls the skills they need to reach their full potential.”

Kevin Frey, Chief Executive Officer of Generation Unlimited said:

“The Girls’ Education Skills Partnership exemplifies the commitment of the UK government and the private sector in addressing the critical gap in skilling girls for 21st Century opportunities.

“P2E is an innovative skills platform designed with partners to reach the girls everywhere, every time, preparing them with in-demand market relevant skills.”

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