AGENCY—written evidence (FON0017) for House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee inquiry: The future of news: impartiality, trust and technology

Owens, Rebecca; Nijia Zhang, Viana; Malviya, Shrikant; Kalameyets, Maksim; Durrant, Abigail; Elliot, Karen; Farrand, Ben; Katsigiannis, Stamos; Neesham, Cristina; Shi, Lei

Abstract

AGENCY is a multidisciplinary research consortium combining expertise in computer science (human-computer interaction, natural language processing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence), design, law, digital technology ethics, responsible innovation, social sciences and media studies. Members of AGENCY are researchers at the University of Birmingham, Durham University, Newcastle University, King's College London, Royal Holloway University of London, and the University of Surrey. A UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) grant supports our research as part of the Protecting Citizens Online programme. Grant title: AGENCY: Assuring Citizen Agency in a World with Complex Online Harms. Grant reference: EP/W032481/2.

This call for evidence into The Future of News: Impartiality, Trust and Technology coincides with the work, expertise, and concerns of the AGENCY project, which focuses on assuring citizen agency in a world with complex online harms. We refer to citizen agency as the ability of citizens (as users of digital technology) to exercise control over the use of (and access to) their data in the digital space. As such, we advocate for a citizen-centred approach to the design and implementation of digital technologies, recognising that regulation should premediate, mitigate, and respond to complex online harms by facilitating and supporting user agency and ensuring respect for fundamental principles such as freedom of expression. Given our expertise and commitment to these issues, we contribute to this discussion by hereby submitting our response to this call for evidence. Specifically, the following researchers contributed to the formulation of this response: Rebecca Owens, Viana Nijia Zhang, Dr. Shrikant Malviya, Dr Maksim Kalameyets, Prof. Abigail Durrant, Prof. Karen Elliott, Prof. Ben Farrand, Dr. Stamos Katsigiannis Dr. Cristina Neesham and Dr Lei Shi.

Our response incorporates insights from ongoing research, and we welcome any further inquiries.

Citation

Owens, R., Nijia Zhang, V., Malviya, S., Kalameyets, M., Durrant, A., Elliot, K., Farrand, B., Katsigiannis, S., Neesham, C., & Shi, L. (2024). AGENCY—written evidence (FON0017) for House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee inquiry: The future of news: impartiality, trust and technology. House of Lords Communications and Digital Select Committee

• Report Type: Policy Document
• Online Publication Date: Feb 20, 2024
• Publication Date: Feb 20, 2024
• Deposit Date: Nov 27, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 28, 2024
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3107901
• Publisher URL: https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/128358/html/