Cybersecuring Democracy in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

The one-day conference is organized and sponsored by the USC Election Cybersecurity Initiative at the University of Southern California and the University of Cyprus, the CYENS Centre of Excellence, and the KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence. The workshop is under the auspices and in collaboration with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. It will occur on October 23rd, 2024, at the University of Cyprus.

Speakers from Cyprus and the U.S. will discuss how advances in AI technologies can affect disinformation and misinformation threats by foreign adversaries and innovations we now see in disinformation attacks, can help safeguard public and private critical infrastructure and databases, and can secure government operations, public utilities, health care, and technology sectors against cyberattacks.

This conference would build on USC’s unique experience working with all 50 states in the U.S. to secure American democracy, together with USC’s leadership in AI research and AI applications in public service. The conference would also be based on USC’s global cybersecurity research and exchanges, including conferences and forums that have been held in Europe, Asia, and Africa. These events are targeted towards people in and around campaigns and elections, including but not limited to academia, policymakers, election officials, citizens and candidates, and IT professionals. The events are also open to concerned citizens. These events bring together academics and practitioners to share expertise on identifying and countering such threats. This event offers an opportunity to extend this approach, providing an opportunity for mutual learning between academics and practitioners in Cyprus, the USA, and the EU.

The event’s primary objective would be raising awareness of the global and national cyber-security challenges in the age of AI, including in Cyprus, and the technological contribution to meeting these challenges. We aim to integrate a range of disciplines in deep and meaningful ways, including the technological and science fields, social media, social science, and public policy. It could form a platform for further discussion between colleagues and stakeholders interested in the technological dimensions of cyber security and the social, political, and (mis)informational sciences. Importantly, the initiative seeks to promote research at the intersection of technology and public policy, providing an opportunity to bring academics more closely together to explore future engagement.

Computer Science and Engineering are needed to understand the technological threat related to recent developments in communication and computing, including social media and artificial intelligence. Mitigations for these threats encompass both policy and technical means. We must consider the manifestation of these technological threats throughout society, including their impact on public opinion, consensus, electoral institutions, procedures, and campaigns, and more generally on government institutions. This requires input from specialists in elections and political behaviour. Understanding the strategic intentions of adversaries is also important, requiring participation by those focused on international relations and security.

The event will bring together, in addition to academics from a variety of disciplines, industry professionals and government officials who will be invited to attend and participate. 

Date: October 23rd, 2024 – 09.00-17.30hrs

Venue: University of Cyprus – Room B108 (ANASTASIOS LEVENTIS Building, NEW CAMPUS

Organizing Committee
Professor C. L. Max Nikias, President Emeritus, University of Southern California
Adam Clayton Powell III, University of Southern California

Elias Athanasopoulos, University of Cyprus

Constantinos S. Pattichis, University of Cyprus and CYENS Centre of Excellenc

Vasos Vassiliou, University of Cyprus and CYENS Centre of Excellence

Angelos Marneros, University of Cyprus and KIOS Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence