Grantees, Fellows Will Tackle AI Accountability at RightsCon in Zambia

Update, April 30, 2026: According to the RightCon summit's website, the five-day event in Lusaka, Zambia, has been canceled. 

The statement on the website says: "It is with heavy hearts that we share: RightsCon will not proceed in Zambia or online. We understand this news is deeply upsetting for our community and while we know everyone has questions, our goal right now is to notify you of the event’s status because many of you have imminent travel plans." 

The statement did not include a cause for the cancellation.

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One of the priorities for the Pulitzer Center this year is to increase the quantity and quality of journalism and civil society partnerships for AI accountability.

Research in 2024 found that interdisciplinary collaborations are important when investigating Big Tech companies, which are not often incentivized to consider AI's effects on communities around the world, particularly marginalized groups.

As part of the Center's efforts, seven of its AI Accountability Fellows and three grantees from the Center's South to South AI Accountability CoLab—a program that aims to strengthen the connection between AI accountability reporting and civil society engagement—will gather with Zambian media and civil society representatives at the 14th RightsCon summit in Lusaka, Zambia, next month.

According to its website, RightsCon is "the world’s leading summit on human rights in the digital age." It will be held May 5-8.

"Each year, RightsCon convenes business leaders, policymakers, general counsels, government representatives, technologists, academics, journalists, and human rights advocates from around the world to tackle pressing issues at the intersection of human rights and technology," the summit's website says.

At a satellite workshop on May 5, Pulitzer Center participants will discuss AI accountability with civil society representatives. This will be a closed session.

Other RightsCon events with the Pulitzer Center will include:

• "Efficiency or Exclusion? Interrogating the Promise of AI in Public Services," Wednesday, May 6: Across the world, governments are increasingly turning to AI and automation to streamline social service systems. The discussion will feature AI Accountability Fellow Miguel Dobrich, founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief of Amenaza Roboto, a science and technology journalism website.
• A facilitated discussion co-hosted with the digital-rights advocacy group Access Now, Wednesday, May 6: A set of short lightning talks followed by a facilitated discussion between civil society and journalists about transdisciplinary collaboration on AI accountability. Please fill out this form if you would like an invitation to the discussion.
• "How To Build Power and Partnerships To Achieve AI Accountability," Thursday, May 7: This session aims to highlight the need for collaboration to hold accountable the harms facilitated by artificial intelligence systems across various actors, including civil society, journalists, activists, and artists. The session will be moderated by Pulitzer Center AI Senior Editor Joanna Kao and will feature AI Accountability Fellow Patricia Clarke.
• "Exploring What Animates Community Struggles Over Data Centers and Why It Matters For Democracy," Thursday, May 7: Around the world, the development of massive AI data centers is sparking local conflicts over land use, water consumption, energy demands, and tax priorities. AI Accountability Fellow Laís Martins will share her data center reporting.

To learn more about RightsCon, click here.