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The most effective way to strengthen the resilience of a democratic society is to invest in media, computer and information literacy and to encourage critical thinking, which includes not only technological but also social phenomena caused by the rapid adoption of digital technologies; legal regulation and international cooperation are key here, the minister said, among other things.
In the discussion entitled Strengthening democracy in the digital age, in addition to the minister Dr. Stojmenov Duh participated Nicholas J. Cull, professor of communication in the USA (Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism), Nicolai Gerard, executive director of Meta EMEA (for Europe, Middle East and Africa - EMEA), Sirpa Rautio, Director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, Stephanie Sutton from the US Department of State and Moira Whelan, Director of Democracy and Technology at the National Democratic Institute in the US.
The participants noted how the exchange of information, the lifeblood of the democratic process, is threatened by the spread of disinformation, as the fragility of democracies depends more on our adaptation abilities than on the development of technologies. Every technological leap, from the printing press to television, has spurred significant social and political change. In addition to great challenges, the digital revolution also brings extraordinary opportunities. The debaters believed that the changes, which in the digital revolution often appear as disturbances in established processes, for example in human rights to privacy, the spread of distorted information, the dangers of digital addiction, new ways of communication, despite the challenges, strengthen, but not undermine, democratic institutions.
Minister Stojmenova Duh pointed out that one of the most effective ways to strengthen the resilience of a democratic society is to invest in media, computer and information literacy and to encourage critical thinking, which also includes an understanding of social phenomena related to the rapid development of digital technologies. At the same time, she emphasized the need for legal regulation of digital platforms, which must be aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability, especially when using artificial intelligence.
Minister Stojmenova Duh held several bilateral meetings at the Bled Strategic Forum. With Stephanie Sutton, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Under Secretary for Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the US Department of State, they discussed activities in the fight against disinformation and manipulation, cross-border cooperation, and the use of artificial intelligence. The central topic of the conversation with Andy Ellul from the Maltese Labor Party were questions about the use of digital technologies and the opportunities that digitization brings, especially to the labor market.
With Nicolai Gerard, director of management and social influence at Meta EMEA, and Patrik Tovaryš, head of policy for Central and Eastern Europe at the company Meta, Minister Stojmenova Duh talked in particular about the possibilities of cooperation in stopping disinformation in the online environment.
They spoke with Mathias Cormann, Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), mainly about cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence and data economy, and with Dietrich N. John, head of the community at the World Economic Forum, about Slovenia's activities in the field of new technologies and future cooperation.
The Bled Strategic Forum once again showed that Slovenia actively participates in global discussions about the future of digital democracy and is ready to make decisions that will ensure its resilience and sustainability in the digital age.
