Digital technologies are not only transforming the economy and society, but are also increasingly reshaping the way we deal with crises and conflicts. PeaceTech focuses on how technological innovations can be specifically harnessed for peace-building purposes. The PeaceTech Alliance, based at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology, brings together expertise from the fields of research, technology, diplomacy and civil society to further develop this emerging and dynamic field.
In a latest interview with science.ORF.at, Nathan Coyle, co-founder of the PeaceTech Alliance and an expert at the AIT Centre for Digital Safety & Security, discusses the opportunities as well as the challenges involved in using new technologies in peace work. Among other things, the interview covers artificial intelligence, data and digital platforms, as well as the question of what framework conditions are necessary to ensure that technological solutions can actually make a positive contribution to society.
An important aspect of this is the responsible and people-centred use of technology. This is because digital tools can have far-reaching implications in sensitive social and political contexts. PeaceTech therefore considers not only the technical possibilities, but also their social consequences and the requirements for responsible development and application.
The PeaceTech Alliance provides an international and interdisciplinary platform for this purpose. It brings together different perspectives, fosters dialogue between research and practice, and develops approaches to harnessing technological innovations for peacebuilding, conflict prevention and social resilience. In particular, the AIT contributes its expertise in the fields of digitalisation, cyber security, artificial intelligence and secure data infrastructures.
In an detailed interview with science.ORF.at, Nathan Coyle explains the specific opportunities offered by PeaceTech, the limitations of technological solutions, and why people’s needs must be at the heart of their development.
The full interview: science.ORF.at – Technologie nur für Frieden verwenden