Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Tuesday underscored the need to make proper policies and raise greater public awareness to prevent the negative impacts and misuse of technology, including artificial intelligence (AI).
"There is no scope to turn our backs on the blessings of information technology. However, if we fail to make the digital ecosystem oriented toward public welfare through the proper use of science and technology, it could, like Frankenstein's monster, bring a devastating catastrophe upon human civilization itself," he said.
Swapon was addressing a dialogue titled "Information Integrity and Social Cohesion in Bangladesh: Policy, Platform Accountability and Collective Action" jointly organized by the Norwegian government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at a city hotel.
"Ensuring information integrity and maintaining social cohesion is no longer solely the concern of software engineers or social media tech giants. It is taking us toward an entirely new ecosystem," he said.
Highlighting the structural complexities of social media, the minister said the algorithms and platforms of Facebook and other social media are primarily operated for business purposes, rather than for public welfare.
The power of internet access in the hands of ordinary people, combined with the commercial interests of social media platforms, has created a complex reality, he said, adding that society itself must find a way forward by properly identifying the opportunities and challenges of this ecosystem while embracing the benefits of science and technology.
Regarding the misuse of artificial intelligence and technology, the minister said many professionals and young people are increasingly becoming overly dependent on AI technology instead of using their own innovative abilities, which is undermining originality and integrity in their work.
"Technology will certainly enhance our innovative capabilities and work efficiency. But people must remain vigilant so that it does not lead them into quicksand," he said.
He emphasized the importance of policymaking that combines the expertise of IT specialists with the common sense and experience of ordinary people.
Referring to the ongoing transformation of newspapers, he said traditional media outlets are now generating significant revenue from digital and multimedia platforms alongside their conventional operations.
In this era of transformation, the media, the state, and non-political stakeholders must work together to ensure the free flow and quality of accurate information, he said.
The minister expressed hope that international forums and UN agencies would play a more active role in preventing misinformation from Bangladesh and making the digital ecosystem more people-oriented.
He also assured that his ministry would provide all necessary policy support to this process.
Senior officials of the ministry, representatives of the United Nations, and civil society representatives attended the seminar.
