During his address at the conclusion of the International Strategic Communication Summit 2024 (Stratcom Summit 2024), hosted by the Presidency's Directorate of Communications in a hotel in İstanbul, Presidency's Head of Communications Fahrettin Altun, remarked on the extensive meetings and consultations that took place over the two-day forum, highlighted discussions regarding the implications of artificial intelligence for humanity, the challenges and risks it presented, as well as the opportunities it offered.
Head of Communications Altun expressed that they explored cooperation opportunities through panels and bilateral meetings, highlighting the diverse participation from various sectors and disciplines, including the public sector, media, private sector, academia, international organisations, non-governmental organisations, and strategic think tanks, all of whom contributed to the forum.
Head of Communications Altun stated that they engaged in a thorough discussion of a variety of issues in the context of artificial intelligence in various fields, including public communication, public relations, international strategic communication, crisis communication, transparency, data security, cyber security, and media ethics.
Noting that it was a significant honour to host the forum, which welcomed 175 guests from 30 countries and attracted over 2,000 participants, Head of Communications Altun emphasised that Stratcom Forum'24 convened a diverse array of nations and specialists from across the globe and underscored the critical significance of negotiation and collaboration within the realm of strategic communication.
Head of Communications Altun expressed that they had collectively shown that it is ultimately humanity that will shape the role of artificial intelligence in history and its impact on our future and it was imperative that they persisted in their endeavours, recognising that artificial intelligence has become an indispensable and integral tool in our society.
Head of Communications Altun emphasised that the importance of conscientious values in the application of artificial intelligence technologies was a recurring theme in nearly all discussions and noted a shared understanding that governments ought to allocate their resources equitably to all segments of society throughout the digital transformation processes.
Head of Communications Altun noted that discussions were held regarding how individuals facing disinformation and the overwhelming spread of false information can leverage digitalisation as a means to amplify their voices to both national and international audiences more effectively.
Head of Communications Altun highlighted the significant responsibility that states bear in the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies and expressed the importance of collaborating with the private sector, civil society organisations, and universities, emphasising strategies that prioritise ethical values, truthfulness, and inclusivity while steering clear of censorship.
Head of Communications Altun emphasised the importance of documenting the responsible use of artificial intelligence, aimed at fostering global benefit and serving all of humanity and highlighted the need to maintain a careful balance between freedom and security, ensuring that this approach does not perpetuate historical colonial practices or undermine national sovereignty, nor prioritise the interests of a select few nations.
"The Stratcom International Strategic Communications Summit embodies our commitment to truth activism"
Recognising that they have experienced the dynamic structure of the global media and communication platform jointly, Head of Communications Altun said, ''In such a platform, we believe that global meeting, dialogue, and negotiation platforms such as Stratcom are critical. In this regard, we see Stratcom not only as a platform for discussion and negotiation but also as one for collaboration. We also see Stratcom as a tool for truth activism. Likewise, we strive to engage in truth activism. Indeed, we fight for the truth. The Stratcom International Strategic Communications Summit embodies our commitment to truth activism. We evaluate our work with this approach. That is why we see Stratcom as a starting point for combating global injustice and the crisis of truth."
Altun stated that they prepared the forum's declaration of will using this approach and shared the following statement with the participants:
''Recognising the new opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in the field of communication, the new experiences that arise as a consequence of these advancements, and the diverse communication ecosystem that communication production and consumption trends are establishing; recognising the necessity of highlighting the numerous issues and challenges that negative values, false information and disinformation can pose to the global information structure should the artificial intelligence designers and consumer groups within this ecosystem transcend fundemantal humanitarian values; including, the most distressing illustration of this situation, the news organisations that fail to provide fair broadcasting in order to announce the massacre experienced by Palestinians in Gaza over the last 14 months and the destruction in the region to the international arena and their silence on the death of nearly 200 journalists who are attempting to report news, as crimes against humanity; within this framework, recording the information security vulnerability of societies or groups of societies that lack the capacity to participate equally and meaningfully in the advanced communication eco-system and the use of artificial intelligence; acknowledging that children and young people are particularly susceptible to content that is enhanced by the use of artificial intelligence on social media platforms; observing the potential for misinformation to be used to manipulate individuals of all ages in the increasingly ageing global population, which may be facilitated by artificial intelligence; we, as the International Strategic Communication Forum Platform, have illustrated the imperative to articulate the entitlement of individuals and societies to receive information that is fair, reliable, transparent, and accurate throughout their lives, while also reinforcing the foundations of this entitlement through appropriate boards and regulations.''
Head of Communications Altun stated that in these initiatives, they emphasised the necessity of developing fundamental digital and artificial intelligence literacy capacities in order to enhance the resilience of citizens of all ages and low-income groups of countries against artificial intelligence and new media, and added: “For this reason, we highlight the need for the enforcement of explicitly and precisely structured laws, regulations and directives on the protection of children and other groups whose resilience is weak due to their age group and socio-economic status on communication platforms using artificial intelligence. We underscore the necessity of creating fundamental ethical codes for vulnerable groups to protect them from violence, destructive values, and disinformation that undermines social cohesion, producing shared content that facilitates this process and, if necessary, establishing new social media environments for them."
"We believe that instead of the sector being dehumanised, artificial intelligence should be humanised."
Stating that they advocate that the use of artificial intelligence technologies should be encouraged by all state and non-state actors in accordance with the principles of personal data protection and cybersecurity, Head of Communications Altun said, "We believe that instead of the sector being dehumanised, artificial intelligence should be humanised in order to understand the infodemic and implement countermeasures, rather than generating disinformation and misinformation. In the context of this framework and system of values, we prioritise the enrichment of communication environments and the expansion of collaborative efforts with all of our stakeholders in the global struggle for truth. While embracing the social and economic transformation brought about by artificial intelligence, we encourage the diversification and deepening of multilateral, multifaceted and inclusive interdisciplinary efforts on measures that can be taken nationally and globally to mitigate the negative effects of the new system."
"We deem it important that editorial activities in the public communication sector should not be left to the monopoly of artificial intelligence"
Emphasising the necessity of updating all formal and lifelong learning curricula and facilitating access to artificial intelligence training in the light of the transformation caused by artificial intelligence, Head of Communications Altun said, "Recognising that the devaluation of truth is the most challenging factor for communicators of our time, we deem it important that editorial activities in the public communication sector should not be left to the monopoly of artificial intelligence. We underscore the significance of a comprehensive approach that respects human rights and nation-state sovereignty in determining the development and operation of artificial intelligence-supported applications and systems, with the participation of states, companies, non-governmental organisations, and international organisations."
Pointing out that they have previously mentioned the necessity for global measures to prevent the use of artificial intelligence technologies in disinformation and manipulation attacks that are intended to interfere with or undermine the democratic processes and internal affairs of states, Head of Communications Altun continued his remarks as follows:
"We are of the opinion that artificial intelligence and other high-tech products have become a primary, not secondary, element in politics and international relations today and that any legal and technological regulations should be made with this awareness. We believe that it is imperative to establish new infrastructure strategies to safeguard against threats that are orientated around artificial intelligence. We contend that in order to maintain their presence in the global communication ecosystem, geographies that have experienced the destruction of their digital infrastructures as a consequence of warfare or conflict should be supported with a sense of solidarity. To conclude, we highlight the significance of a human-orientated perspective in the application of artificial intelligence technologies by emphasising that they are merely instruments at our disposal and that human labour is the primary concern."
Head of Communications Altun stated that as the International Strategic Communication Platform, they have collectively illustrated the imperative to articulate the entitlement of individuals and societies to receive information that is fair, reliable, transparent, and accurate throughout their lives while also reinforcing the foundations of this entitlement through appropriate boards and regulations.
Noting that the Forum presented significant insights on critical issues, including the assessment of emerging trends in artificial intelligence that shape global communication, the exploration of opportunities and challenges posed by artificial intelligence, and the enhancement of resilience through the effective utilisation of strategic communication, Head of Communications Altun stated that they believe that the Forum would foster a more resilient and stable international society through collaboration, the exchange of knowledge, and the sharing of experiences.
Head of Communications Altun continued his remarks as follows:
"As Türkiye, we will persist in being a dependable hub for international dialogue, aiming to foster an environment of stability and trust that emphasises peace, truth, and justice both in our region and globally. We believe that the problems we face are global. We believe that no state or nation can isolate itself from these problems and defend itself alone. Therefore, we firmly reiterate once again that we need global cooperation in the face of these global challenges. We will persist in our work in this context, and we will carry on our efforts within this framework and under the umbrella of this Forum. The Stratcom International Strategic Communication Summit will continue to serve as a forum for open discussion that supports the constructive efforts of this policy in the field of communication."
Expressing his gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his unwavering support of Stratcom, Head of Communications Altun also thanked those who contributed to the Forum.
Head of Communications Altun concluded his remarks by wishing to meet with the participants at the Forum, which will be held for the fifth time next year.
