Talk: AI, Algorithms, and the Threat to Media Independence

Artificial intelligence poses significant challenges to media independence through its dual role in content moderation and curation. Increasingly, content moderation on major platforms is handled by AI-driven systems, which are prone to errors and often shaped by commercial or political interests rather than journalistic or democratic values. This not only risks unjust censorship but also opens the door to AI-powered harassment campaigns against journalists, contributing to rising levels of self-censorship. At the same time, a handful of internet intermediaries, guided by profit rather than public interest, control the curation, distribution, and monetisation of news. AI systems tailor content to users based on surveillance of their online behaviour, reinforcing echo chambers and filter bubbles. This undermines access to diverse, high-quality information and shifts media consumption towards personalised, market-driven experiences, to the detriment of informed public debate.