Belgrade Digital Freedom Pledge: Recommender Systems as a Public Good

1. We understand the utmost power of machine learning algorithms (such as recommender systems) and web trackers to shape societies (for example, by creating polarizations), as they use digital footprints to give individual content recommendations to every online user, and therefore surpass mainstream media in their ineuence and scope (global impact).

2. Tech organizations and societies need to make the best possible decisions on how to customize recommender systems for mutual beneet. Therefore, we are open to discussing online recommender algorithms as a public good.

3. We strongly propagate free speech. Thus, deleting or blocking some content because of hate speech or fake news should be a shared responsibility, previously deened with other relevant stakeholders in society to preserve neutrality.

4. We shall discuss digital identity as a human right, as denying it may affect the lives, work, and mental health of individuals.

5. We need to consider online users as owners of their digital footprints and give them complete insight into it and the possibility to customize it (for example, whether it would be used for ad customization or not). We also acknowledge the following:

• We will look for ways to standardize our digital footprint using blockchain or similar technology.
• The online user needs to know who can use their digital footprint while being capable of revocating access to any entity (organization) or all of them.
• The online user must be able to delete their digital footprint completely and at any time.

6. We should stimulate research into how emerging technologies affect the psychological wellbeing of citizens. We recognize this important field is neglected and needs support to direct the development of technology toward individual and social well-being.

While the Belgrade Digital Freedom Pledge was initially signed at the Emerge Forum on the Future of AI-Driven Humanity in Belgrade on December 18, 2022, by the undersigned, it now seeks the support of the wider community because of the importance of these issues for our global future.

Initial signees of the Belgrade Digital Freedom Pledge:

• Dr. Ljubiša Bojic and Dr. Jelena Guga on the behalf of the initiator Digital Society Lab, IFDT, University of Belgrade
• Dr. Dubravko Culibrk, The Institute for Articial Intelligence
• Dr. Matteo Cinelli, Sapienza University of Rome
• Dr. Sanja Bojanic, Center for Advanced Studies Southeast Europe,
• University of Rijeka
• Mladen Jovanovic, Serbian AI Society
• Aleksandar Linc Djordjevic, Data Science Conference
• Danilo Krivokapic, Share Foundation
• Meem Arafat Manab, School of Data and Sciences, BRAC University