Speaker Interview: Mila Josifovska Danilovska
Mila Josifovska Danilovska is the Programme Manager for Social Accountability and Human Rights Online at Metamorphosis Foundation for Internet and Society. She will be part of a panel in the Showcasing successful projects programme section on the second day of the conference.
🪩 DISCO:
What does digital sovereignty mean to you? How do you (try to) live a digitally sovereign life?
🎤 Mila Josifovska Danilovska:
My relationship with digital sovereignty fluctuates each day based on the novelties I learn about. Overall, it all comes down to me being able to ‘control my digital destiny’. I try to maintain this control by practicing good cyber hygiene and familiarizing myself with any new developments and trends that I can use to my advantage
🪩 DISCO:
As we witness rapid technological breakthroughs in the field of AI, which digital rights do you consider the most endangered?
🎤 Mila Josifovska Danilovska:
Privacy. AI systems rely on vast amounts of data to operate effectively, which can raise concerns when personal information is collected and potentially misused without individuals' knowledge or consent. Surveillance AI algorithms can inherit biases present in the training data, which can infringe upon the digital rights of individuals by perpetuating inequalities and discrimination.
🪩 DISCO:
What other threats to digital rights are you worried about? Do you have any insights on how we can address them as a society?
🎤 Mila Josifovska Danilovska:
Cybersecurity is a prominent concern within the Western Balkan region, particularly in light of the limited readiness demonstrated by both institutions and citizens. To cultivate and sustain a society that is resilient to cyber threats, a multi-stakeholder approach is imperative.
🪩 DISCO:
How can events such as DISCO Slovenia 2023 help foster international collaborations and partnerships in promoting digital sovereignty and protecting civil liberties in the interconnected world?
🎤 Mila Josifovska Danilovska:
Given the similarities of the local context that we work in the region, this is the perfect opportunity for us to recognize different instances of the transformative power of active and engaged civil society in the context of digital sovereignty, and learn from each other’s experiences. Together, we can highlight the politics of technology and raise awareness about existing problems, but also establish new alliances in addressing them at a higher level.
🪩 DISCO:
What would you consider responsible and inclusive engineering? What are the key ethical considerations that should guide the development and deployment of emerging technologies to ensure digital sovereignty and safeguard human rights?
🎤 Mila Josifovska Danilovska:
Responsible and inclusive engineering has a role in creating technology ecosystems that empower individuals, respect their autonomy, and enhance their digital rights. This is why it is key to include transparency in technology design and operation, ensure equitable access to and benefits from technology, minimize the biases and discrimination, protect privacy, and foster accountability for the developers, operators, and users of these technologies. Inclusive engineering should actively engage with diverse stakeholders, including marginalized communities, to ensure their voices are heard and their needs addressed.
🪩 DISCO:
What advice would you give to individuals on how to responsibly navigate the online environment in regard to their privacy and digital rights? Are there any specific tools that you would recommend?
🎤 Mila Josifovska Danilovska:
Think before you click. It may sound as a cliché but this goes in many ways from being aware of what information you share about yourself or others, what kind of content you access and what scams you fall for, what you agree to in Terms and conditions, up to whether with your actions you are endangering other peoples’ digital rights and privacy. This is why digital literacy and media literacy are of key importance for citizens to be able to think critically and to competently and ethically navigate the online environment. In case your privacy or digital rights are endangered, check out these free basic tools: Digital First Aid Kit & Cybersecurity toolkit.
🪩 DISCO:
Can you recommend a book that we should all read before the conference, a podcast that we should subscribe to and/or a website that we should bookmark?
🎤 Mila Josifovska Danilovska:
Check out the e-Governance Academy Digital Governance Podcast, and tune in for the one in October where I will talk about increasing civic engagement in the Digital agenda for the Western Balkans. ☺
🪩 DISCO:
Which disco tune should we definitely add to the opening party playlist?
🎤 Mila Josifovska Danilovska:
Dancing Queen by Abba.