Glossary
AI and Civil Society
The roles of non-governmental organizations, movements and independent media in contesting, shaping and using AI.
Last reviewed 2026-08-22
In plain language
Civil society documents harms, litigates, participates in standards and treaty processes, and sometimes builds alternative technologies. Civic space constraints—surveillance, shutdowns, SLAPP suits—directly affect who can govern AI. International processes such as the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance and UNESCO’s ethics work explicitly include multi-stakeholder participation, though access and influence remain uneven.
Why it matters for AI governance
A directory of AI governance that only lists states and firms misses the actors who often surface rights impacts first. Civic participation is both a principle and a practical capacity issue.
Authoritative sources
- UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance (opens in a new tab) — United Nations