Conference

Social & Media Matters convened a high-impact event titled Empowering Digital Citizens: Ethical AI for a Safer Cyber World, bringing together tech experts, policymakers, and civil society leaders to confront the fast-evolving threat of deepfake technology.

The conversations spotlighted how manipulated audio and video are being weaponized to mislead, defraud, and harm—with major consequences for individuals, organizations, and democratic institutions. Speakers emphasized the urgent need for:

• Stronger legal frameworks to regulate synthetic media
• AI-powered detection tools for early threat identification
• Public education and digital literacy to build widespread resilience

A key theme was the protection of vulnerable groups—especially children and youth—from the psychological and reputational damage caused by deepfakes. Recommendations included:

• Integrating digital safety into school curricula
• Creating institutional response protocols for handling deepfake incidents
• Strengthening collaboration between platforms, governments, and law enforcement

The event underscored that combating deepfakes requires more than just tech—it demands a shared commitment to ethics, education, and cross-sector cooperation. Participants agreed that digital trust can only be restored through proactive, inclusive efforts that blend innovation with accountability.

As deepfake tools become more sophisticated, so must our collective response. This event served as a crucial step toward building a safer, smarter digital ecosystem—where ethical AI and empowered citizens shape the future.