Iceland’s minister warns of authoritarianism, rights rollbacks and AI-driven disinformation

In his United Nations address, the Minister for Affairs of Iceland warned of a growing global battle over the kind of societies people will live in, saying authoritarianism and political extremism are gaining ground and that attacks on democratic institutions, independent media and science are increasing.

He singled out rollbacks on gender equality and LGBTQI+ rights, citing Afghanistan as an example, and said Iceland would emphasize gender equality, LGBTQI+ rights and children’s rights during its council term. The minister also warned that the AI revolution makes it easier to produce convincing falsehoods and called for international cooperation among governments, scientists and businesses to harness AI’s benefits while confronting its risks. On climate, he urged leaders to follow facts and responsibility in the face of rising seas and erosion that threaten island communities.