Leading researchers from the ADAPT Centre joined academics, policy experts, and graduate students for a compelling interdisciplinary seminar on AI Ethics, Human Rights and the Future of Democracy. Hosted by the School of Religion, Theology, and Peace Studies at Trinity College Dublin in collaboration with the Universidade Católica Portuguesa and the Boston College Global Ethics and Social Trust Programme, the event brought together thought leaders to explore how artificial intelligence intersects with core democratic values.
ADAPT researchers contributed to the agenda throughout the day. Dr. Marta Lasek-Markey and Professor Linda Hogan opened the day with an overview session that framed AI ethics and human rights as urgent, interconnected global challenges. Dr. Abeba Birhane, renowned for her work on AI accountability, followed with a session presenting the work of the AI Accountability Lab at Trinity College Dublin, which she leads. Their contributions highlighted ADAPT’s deep engagement with questions of justice, governance, and the responsible development of emerging technologies.
A keynote address by Professor Nelson Ribeiro, media historian and Vice-Rector at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, offered an analysis of the structural transformations in media and their implications for democracy. His talk, AI, Disinformation and the Future of Democracy, traced the evolution of propaganda from the 20th century into today’s algorithmic age, where misinformation is spread rapidly through digital platforms.
Ribeiro cautioned that while digital media were once hailed as liberatory tools, they now often serve as instruments for manipulation, especially through personalised microtargeting. “Most people no longer get their information from traditional media,” he noted. “Algorithms, rather than journalists, are increasingly responsible for shaping public discourse.” This shift from a top-down to a horizontal information model has introduced new vulnerabilities, particularly when profit motives override journalistic integrity.
Citing examples from the U.S. and Portugal, Ribeiro demonstrated how false narratives are not only produced but carefully distributed to reinforce existing biases and sow doubt. He called for renewed public media literacy, deeper understanding of the disinformation ecosystem, and urgent policy responses to algorithmic manipulation and the erosion of public trust.
The seminar also showcased emerging research from graduate student rapporteurs, who reflected on topics ranging from peace-building and media literacy to AI’s impact on marginalised communities. A session on Democratic Futures and Youth Imagination, led by Mairéad Hurley, underscored the importance of engaging younger generations in envisioning more inclusive and equitable technological futures.
Professor Hogan, Principal Investigator at the ADAPT Centre, emphasised the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in facing the ethical challenges posed by AI. The event highlighted how democracy requires more than fair elections. It depends on the integrity of the information ecosystem and the active participation of properly informed citizens.
