Stefaan Verhulst, PhD

The International Observatory on Information and Democracy is the missing part of an international architecture meant to solve the current information chaos. Democratic principles and public debate are suffering from threats caused by structuring tech corporations. The lack of a clear and shared understanding and the complexity of challenges hampers the ability of democratic states to tackle them. The IOID aims to aggregate and synthesize existing research and offer policymakers a periodic… Show more

The International Observatory on Information and Democracy is the missing part of an international architecture meant to solve the current information chaos. Democratic principles and public debate are suffering from threats caused by structuring tech corporations. The lack of a clear and shared understanding and the complexity of challenges hampers the ability of democratic states to tackle them. The IOID aims to aggregate and synthesize existing research and offer policymakers a periodic global assessment of the information and communication space and how it impacts democracy. More at: https://informationdemocracy.org/mission/ Show less

There are many expert panels on issues ranging from biodiversity to chemical pollution or nuclear proliferation, and the most famous is now the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Almost a decade ago, in 2014, a small group of academics started to wonder: Why is there no panel about the promotion of social justice, about the search for a general set of better policies and better institutions—in a nutshell, for a better society? Many policy issues examined by the existing panels have deep… Show more

There are many expert panels on issues ranging from biodiversity to chemical pollution or nuclear proliferation, and the most famous is now the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Almost a decade ago, in 2014, a small group of academics started to wonder: Why is there no panel about the promotion of social justice, about the search for a general set of better policies and better institutions—in a nutshell, for a better society? Many policy issues examined by the existing panels have deep societal roots in the economy, in politics, and in cultures and values. Addressing these deeper factors would ease the search for solutions in many domains. This questioning turned out to be widely shared among social scientists, and motivated the launch of the International Panel on Social Progress (IPSP) in 2015. More: https://www.ipsp.org/about-2 Show less

Hosted by the Instituto Igarapéé and New America to help ensure predictive technologies promote #humanrights and sustainable and equitable #development... "The task force comprises some of the world’s leading thinkers, practitioners, and advocates. Coming from five continents and representing a diversity of backgrounds and identities, they include technologists, lawyers, journalists, activists, academics, entrepreneurs, and a Nobel… Show more

Hosted by the Instituto Igarapéé and New America to help ensure predictive technologies promote #humanrights and sustainable and equitable #development... "The task force comprises some of the world’s leading thinkers, practitioners, and advocates. Coming from five continents and representing a diversity of backgrounds and identities, they include technologists, lawyers, journalists, activists, academics, entrepreneurs, and a Nobel laureate." https://igarape.org.br/en/digital-security/global-task-force/ Show less

https://smit.vub.ac.be/

The Global Data Barometer will fill critical knowledge gaps on how data policy and practice are unfolding in different sectors, regions, and countries around the world. Building on the Open Data Barometer study, which has been used to drive policymaking, advocacy, and academic research across the world, we are creating a new global benchmark that tracks the extent to which data is governed, shared, and used for the public good. https://globaldatabarometer.org/about/team/

PERISCOPE investigates the broad socio-economic and behavioural impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, to make Europe more resilient and prepared for future large-scale risks. (See https://periscopeproject.eu/)

Urban AI is a Think Tank which federates an international ecosystem and a multidisciplinary community. Together, we propose ethical modes of governance and sustainable uses of urban AI. To do this, we carry out research (white papers, trend books, analyzes, ...) and experiments around this concept. Urban AI also aims to be a space for exchange and meeting. A place of debate that welcomes a diversity of points of view around AI and the future of cities. A think tank that helps citizens, public… Show more

Urban AI is a Think Tank which federates an international ecosystem and a multidisciplinary community. Together, we propose ethical modes of governance and sustainable uses of urban AI. To do this, we carry out research (white papers, trend books, analyzes, ...) and experiments around this concept. Urban AI also aims to be a space for exchange and meeting. A place of debate that welcomes a diversity of points of view around AI and the future of cities. A think tank that helps citizens, public decision makers and corporates to embrace urban AI. More: https://urbanai.fr/ Show less

More https://en.unesco.org/programme/ifap/working-groups Members of the Working Group provide their professional expertise in one or more of the IFAP strategic priorities, to support the achievement of the Programme’s overarching goals. The multi-stakeholder composition of Working Groups with representatives drawn from government, the private sector, networks of information professionals, researchers and other relevant parties, provides the interdisciplinary perspectives and expertise to… Show more

More https://en.unesco.org/programme/ifap/working-groups Members of the Working Group provide their professional expertise in one or more of the IFAP strategic priorities, to support the achievement of the Programme’s overarching goals. The multi-stakeholder composition of Working Groups with representatives drawn from government, the private sector, networks of information professionals, researchers and other relevant parties, provides the interdisciplinary perspectives and expertise to address the challenge of information for all. Given the international scope of their membership, Working Groups are expected to organize their activities primarily through online collaboration. They are however encouraged to take advantage of seminars, conferences, training events and other opportunities for face-to-face collaboration both amongst themselves and with other members of the IFAP network. Show less

High-quality mapping data is not accessible in many parts of the world and does not benefit people or societies equally. Similar to wealth inequality worldwide, the power and benefits of mapping data are held in the hands of too few. More at https://thisisplace.org/

The Public Health, Surveillance, and Human Rights (PHSHR) Network is an international, interdisciplinary group of organizations and leaders from industry, civil society, government and academia focused on building frameworks that map and address the risks, opportunities, and challenges posed by the public health surveillance crucial to stemming the Covid-19 pandemic. The PHSHR Network will share knowledge, best practices, and ideas for designing the policies and technologies that will monitor… Show more

The Public Health, Surveillance, and Human Rights (PHSHR) Network is an international, interdisciplinary group of organizations and leaders from industry, civil society, government and academia focused on building frameworks that map and address the risks, opportunities, and challenges posed by the public health surveillance crucial to stemming the Covid-19 pandemic. The PHSHR Network will share knowledge, best practices, and ideas for designing the policies and technologies that will monitor and evaluate surveillance practices and protect privacy and, therefore, safeguard health in its broadest meaning. More at https://covid19research.ssrc.org/public-health-surveillance-and-human-rights-network/ Show less

AI has an immense power to accelerate innovation, but also entrench bias and inequality. Due to this, a systematic and scientific approach to studying practical ethical issues linked with AI and its diverse modern-day applications becomes crucial, particularly in cases that are complex and involve competing values and interests. Independent academic research plays a fundamental role in designing and implementing frameworks and guidelines for the development and use of AI-based technologies… Show more

AI has an immense power to accelerate innovation, but also entrench bias and inequality. Due to this, a systematic and scientific approach to studying practical ethical issues linked with AI and its diverse modern-day applications becomes crucial, particularly in cases that are complex and involve competing values and interests. Independent academic research plays a fundamental role in designing and implementing frameworks and guidelines for the development and use of AI-based technologies. Academic expertise, drawn from across disciplines and geographies, is critical in helping guide governments, companies, NGOs and other actors navigate current uncertainty and arrive at sound and justifiable responses. Consequently, nine universities and research institutes across four continents have agreed to form a Global AI Ethics Consortium. See https://ieai.mcts.tum.de/global-ai-ethics-consortium/ Show less

Data-Driven Innovation: An innovation network helping organisations tackle challenges for industry and society by doing data right to support Edinburgh in its ambition to become the data capital of Europe. More: https://ddi.ac.uk/about-us/ddi-ambassadors/

The Data for Children Collaborative with UNICEF is a joint partnership between UNICEF, The Scottish Government and the University of Edinburgh’s Data Driven Innovation Programme which seeks to improve outcomes for children locally, nationally and globally. We draw on the strengths of all partners to bring insight and solve problems using data and data science techniques. More at https://www.dataforchildrencollaborative.com/

The ISI Foundation is a private Foundation conducting research rooted in the area of Complex Systems Science, a field that the institute has contributed to shape for more than three decades.

"From neuroscientists to bestselling authors and CEO’s, to entrepreneurs and TED Talkers, the Advisory Board is our think tank of 55 members whose razor-edge insights cut across pretty much everything. They are our partners in crime, and culture." See https://www.sparksandhoney.com/advisory-board

Global Partners Digital (GPD) is a social purpose company dedicated to fostering a digital environment underpinned by human rights and democratic values. We do this by making policy spaces and processes more open, inclusive and transparent, and by facilitating strategic, informed and coordinated engagement in these processes by public interest actors. https://www.gp-digital.org/who-we-are/advisory-board/

The Center for Media, Data and Society (CMDS) is a research center for the study of media, communication, and information policy and its impact on society and practice. Founded in 2004 as the Center for Media and Communication Studies, CMDS is part of CEU’s School of Public Policy and serves as a focal point for an international network of acclaimed scholars, research institutions and activists. See https://cmds.ceu.edu/advisory-board

In June 2017, the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data announced a new governance structure comprised of a Board of Directors and a Technical Advisory Group (TAG). The Technical Advisory Group provides sectoral and working-level expertise on areas including open data, statistics, citizen voices, earth observation technologies, and remote sensing. The TAG held its inaugural meeting during the 2017 UN General Assembly. - More at https://www.data4sdgs.org/

BEPAB was formed at the request of the OECD’s Committee on Financial Markets and Committee on Digital Economy Policy, with a fixed-term mandate to the end of 2020. The group met and worked through 2019 and 2020 to deliver on its central priority: to development proposals for a policy framework on responsible and trustworthy innovation and adoption of distributed ledger technologies. This goal was realised with the draft OECD Principles for Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies, to… Show more

BEPAB was formed at the request of the OECD’s Committee on Financial Markets and Committee on Digital Economy Policy, with a fixed-term mandate to the end of 2020. The group met and worked through 2019 and 2020 to deliver on its central priority: to development proposals for a policy framework on responsible and trustworthy innovation and adoption of distributed ledger technologies. This goal was realised with the draft OECD Principles for Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies, to which BEPAB’s contributions were instrumental. Show less

Orbicom is an international network that links communications leaders from academic, media, corporate and government circles with a view to providing for the exchange of information and the development of shared projects.

The Global Commission on Internet Governance was established in January 2014 to articulate and advance a strategic vision for the future of Internet governance. The project conducts and supports independent research on Internet-related dimensions of global public policy. More at https://ourinternet.org/about/research-advisors/

The 2019-2020 Global Future Council on Consumption will focus on the role of consumer data in shaping the opportunities and risks that lie ahead for the future of consumption. The council will focus on developing a deeper understanding of the role of consumer data as an enabler in the creation of new models of responsible consumption that are more sustainable, equitable and trustworthy. The council will also explore public-private consumer data collaboration for the common good, leveraging the… Show more

The 2019-2020 Global Future Council on Consumption will focus on the role of consumer data in shaping the opportunities and risks that lie ahead for the future of consumption. The council will focus on developing a deeper understanding of the role of consumer data as an enabler in the creation of new models of responsible consumption that are more sustainable, equitable and trustworthy. The council will also explore public-private consumer data collaboration for the common good, leveraging the principles shared in the World Economic Forum’s “Data Collaboration for the Common Good” Insight Report as well as data sharing thought leadership from consumer data standards organizations, government regulators and the private sector. Show less