Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya started her working visit to Paris by participating in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit, held under the patronage of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron. As part of the international forum, where world leaders and experts discuss the impact of artificial intelligence on politics and society, Ms. Tsikhanouskaya spoke at the panel discussion “AI and Democracy”.
The Belarusian leader highlighted how the authoritarian regime in Belarus uses artificial intelligence for control and repression, as well as how democratic activists are adapting technology to fight for freedom and human rights.
During her speech, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya outlined five ways AI can help on the path to democracy:
- Restricted access for dictators
“Ban the regime’s content on your platforms. We must ensure that your platforms are not used for its propaganda”. - Tools to protect citizens
“Belarusians need technologies that help bypass censorship and maintain anonymity. The KGB monitors everyone, so we need secure communication channels, VPN services, and fact-checking systems”. - Educational support
“Tech giants like Google, Amazon, or Microsoft could offer AI training through civic and social projects”. - Support for the Belarusian language
“Russia’s occupation policy aims at the Russification of Belarus, and technological platforms do not always support the Belarusian language. But this is our secret weapon, and it must live”.
5. Symbolic actions
“When the Russian segment of Wikipedia officially changed ‘Belorussia’ to ‘Belarus’, it was a powerful moral boost for Belarusians and our independence”.
