67th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference
Our Cross-Cutting Themes

Technology and Innovation

Background

Technology and Innovation

New and emerging technologies have the potential to revolutionise our lives. They can help us to make better decisions, improve productivity, and even save lives. Many of these technologies can also be used to automate mundane tasks, freeing up time for more substantive, creative and innovative work.

However, such rapid changes also pose significant risks to our democracies, decision-making and public discourse, especially when it comes to AI-generated disinformation and synthetic media.

Parliaments have a unique role to play in addressing emerging technology, both as institutions that can benefit from the efficiencies and capacity that new technologies can provide, and as legislators who are responsible for setting the legal and policy framework for the same technologies.

The CPA Secretariat will ensure we have a sustained focus on technology and innovation. We will employ innovative techniques and create more virtual opportunities to share best practice across our programmes, governance and support to members.

In undertaking these efforts, we will acknowledge and address the digital divide within our membership and the wider Commonwealth through additional support and technical assistance programmes where appropriate. We will also look to increase awareness, training and resources available for CPA members and staff to develop their IT knowledge and capacity, to ensure we can all be agile and flexible in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

Projects and Programmes

Technology and Innovation

Deepfakes and Disinformation in the Election Superyear

The CPA Headquarters Secretariat and UNDP hosted a Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Disinformation: ‘Democracy in the age of deepfakes in Singapore from 18 to 20 June 2024.

The Conference sought to raise awareness about the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence and synthetic media and their implications for parliamentary democracy, information integrity, informed public discourse and evidence based decision-making. 

Take action: Read about the Conference and browse images from the programme through the CPA Flickr account (link in the news story accessible below).

Read about the Conference

Democracy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

The CPA hosted a three-day online conference on 'AI, Disinformation and Parliament: Ensuring the Integrity of our Digital Democracy' from 4 to 6 December 2023, organised by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA).

The conference brought together MPs, parliamentary staff, industry leaders and experts to discuss emerging trends in artificial intelligence and the potential impact of AI-generated disinformation on our democratic institutions, decision-making and public discourse.

Take action: Access recordings from all three days of the conference, share across your own networks and post your comments, thoughts and feedback.

Watch and share the conference

Disinformation, AI and Synthetic Media

In December 2023, the CPA, in partnership with the Organization of American States (OAS), published a Parliamentary Handbook on Disinformation, AI and Synthetic Media. The handbook provides a comprehensive overview of disinformation, including its different forms and the various techniques used to spread it. It introduces the concept of ‘synthetic disinformation’, a new era in the history of disinformation heralded by the emergence of generative-artificial intelligence, and explores mitigation strategies for combating synthetic disinformation.

Take action:  Read an extract from the Handbook and download a copy of the publication to learn more about the latest trends and developments in AI-generated disinformation and to learn how you can mitigate against abuses of new and emerging technologies.

Download the handbook

The 4th Industrial Revolution

The 2021 CPA Virtual Conference on the 4th Industrial Revolution brought together MPs, parliamentary staff, industry leaders and experts to review the transformative technologies that are driving the 4th Industrial Revolution and to prepare our democratic institutions to better respond to these advances.

Take action: Read our blog post to find articles, toolkits, reports, videos and more that can help Parliamentarians take forward the lessons from the Conference and respond to the 4th Industrial Revolution through knowledge-sharing, legislation and scrutiny.

12 resources for MPs on the future of technology

Technology & Innovation Resources

Browse CPA and Commonwealth publications
An image representing artificial intelligence, created using AI software using the prompt 'artificial intelligence in a pop art style'.

Blog | What is synthetic disinformation and how does it threaten democracies?

This article explains the key features of synthetic disinformation and outlines their consequences for democracies.
Read the blog

Blog | 12 resources for MPs on the future of technology

Find articles, reports, videos and more to help Parliamentarians respond to the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Read the blog

Download our resources

Front cover of the Parliamentary Handbook on Disinformation, AI and Synthetic Media
Parliamentary Handbook on Disinformation, AI and Synthetic Media

This handbook provides a comprehensive overview of disinformation, including its different forms and the various techniques used to spread it. It also covers the basics of AI and synthetic media, including their potential applications and implications for democracy, within and beyond the electoral cycle. You can also view the handbook on our ISSUU platform click here >

Engagement, Education and Outreach Handbook for Commonwealth Parliaments

This Handbook provides guidance to Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures on how to increase public engagement and outreach, to ensure the public get a greater say in how they are governed.

The Parliamentarian: Social Media and Democracy

Latest Issue:

The Parliamentarian: 2024 Issue One: Artificial Intelligence, disinformation and Parliament:

This digital issue of The Parliamentarian examines the challenges that Artificial Intelligence, disinformation and synthetic media are creating for democracy in the Commonwealth and how Parliaments can face these challenges. This issue brings together Parliamentarians and global tech experts to explain what synthetic disinformation is and how AI is threatening our democracies. Articles also highlight the impact of AI on elections and gender equality.

Related Videos

Use the 'Playlist' button (in-player, top right) to browse the playlist

Related News

Leading experts discuss the challenges of ‘deepfakes & disinformation’ at CPA/UNDP Conference in Singapore
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Leading experts discuss the challenges of ‘deepfakes & disinformation’ at CPA/UNDP Conference in Singapore

Commonwealth Parliamentarians and leading experts discuss new technologies at CPA and UNDP Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Disinformation in Singapore

CPA prepares Parliaments for a new era of disinformation with handbook on artificial intelligence
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CPA prepares Parliaments for a new era of disinformation with handbook on artificial intelligence

The Parliamentary Handbook on Disinformation, AI and Synthetic Media provides readers with an overview of disinformation, the different forms it can take and the contemporary techniques used to spread it.

International Day of Democracy 2021
News

International Day of Democracy 2021

To mark International Day of Democracy, the CPA has launched, 'Democracy Looks Different: How the pandemic changed Commonwealth democracies', a blog series reviewing how COVID-19 has changed the way that democracies look and function.