Driving Public and Grassroots Movements to Influence Artificial Intelligence Policies
In Spain, a significant shift is underway as various grassroots organizations come together to influence AI policymaking. These groups, focusing on human rights, antiracism, labor rights, and digital rights, are playing a crucial role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence (AI) in the country.
One of the most notable achievements is the approval of the 2022 'Riders' Law', which recognizes delivery riders as employees and ensures their salary, welfare, and working rights protection. This legislation, applicable to all sectors of work, serves as an interesting policy precedent at an international level.
The success of the 'Riders' Law' has also extended to research initiatives. The Observatory of Work, Algorithm and Society, and Workers Info Exchange have used it as a foundation for their advocacy campaigns, proposing specific recommendations to influence the position of the European Parliament on the recently adopted European Platform Work Directive.
Inclusive Engagement and Co-Creation
Strategies that blend inclusive civil society participation, multi-stakeholder co-creation, and empowerment through digital tools and innovation ecosystems have proven effective in Spain. In Seville, marginalized Roma communities have engaged through civil society groups that critically address algorithmic governance and AI impacts. A notable example is the Roma-led umbrella organization FAKALI, which developed AmalIA, an AI educational tool centered on Roma culture and digital empowerment.
Similarly, in Catalonia, a multi-stakeholder "Theory of Change" was co-created involving academics, policymakers, and community actors to guide climate and healthcare policy transformation. This participatory process enables diverse actors to collaboratively visualize and plan the steps necessary for systemic change, a model that can be applied to AI policy engagement.
Bottom-Up Innovation Ecosystems
The corporate context also offers insights into effective strategies. BBVA's experience in Spain shows how fostering grassroots innovation within organizations—by encouraging employees to create and share AI solutions—can create a broad base of AI literacy and influence governance. This model underscores how decentralized, participant-driven ecosystems strengthen the capacity for sustained and diverse engagement in AI development and policy.
Mainstreaming AI in Political Discourse
IA Ciudadana, a network consisting of several organizations working on social justice, antiracism, digital rights, and AI, has engaged, connected, and mobilized people with specific and localized issues. By advocating for the democratization of AI and collaborating with platforms like Poletika, IA Ciudadana has gained an influential platform to raise AI-related issues and mainstream the notion of 'democratizing AI' in the context of electoral politics.
Building Civil Society Networks
Effective public engagement requires expanding the concept of impact to include the creation and strengthening of civil society networks. The Algorace team, with an antiracist and feminist approach, invests in publishing comprehensive information about AI and its impact on racialised people and low-income communities, releasing resources like 'An introduction to AI and Algorithm Discrimination for Social Movements', which are written in accessible and non-academic language.
In conclusion, the examples from Spain demonstrate that continuous and in-depth engagement with diverse publics can be an effective way to include their voices in vital policy decisions. Drawing connections between the AI and data issues that impact people and society, and other pressing social issues is crucial for effective public participation in AI. The process of building new political power is as important as driving policy change.
- The grassroots organizations in Spain, notably IA Ciudadana, are leveraging technology to democratize AI and mainstream the concept in political discourse, particularly through platforms like Poletika, thereby influencing policy-and-legislation in electoral politics.
- The Algorace team in Spain, focusing on antiracism and feminist approach, is using technology to educate and empower diverse publics by publishing accessible resources about AI and its impact on marginalized communities, fostering the growth of civil society networks focused on policy-and-legislation related to AI.
