#CyberArchives and AI: Safeguarding and Enhancing Digital Information

Between 2017 and 2020, UNESCO Archives digitized15,316 archival audio recordings from the 1950s to the 1980s, covering a range of topics, personalities, regions, languages and genres in more than 70 languages. The collection includes radio programmes, interviews, speeches, events and music, reflecting the international work of UNESCO. A further 2,314 recordings were digitised between 2021 and 2022. These recordings now form a significant part of UNESCO's digital archives. In addition, UNESCO is piloting the use of a chatbot for five specific collections available via its central document repository UNESDOC, to facilitate more advanced research and discovery of UNESCO resources for users.

The main challenge for UNESCO archivists is to describe the content of these recordings, as many lack detailed information. In this virtual session, we will present the strategies and models that have been implemented using AI to manage these archives, including the use of diplomatic analysis, a medieval archival method adapted for contemporary records, to assist in training AI models. guided by ethical considerations in line with the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

Thomas Chanussot With over 20 years of experience in IT across 20 countries, Thomas has worked for various United Nations agencies and NGOs, with a focus on the development and securitization of information systems for civil registries and electoral operations. Passionate about the intersection of big data, governance, and cybersecurity, he has specialized in creating electoral fraud detection and visualization tools. Thomas joined UNESCO in 2022 as Cybersecurity and Digital Assets manager. Since 2023, he chairs the UNESCO AI working group, actively promoting AI usage internally.

Eng Sengsavang is Reference Archivist at UNESCO. As part of InterPARES Trust AI, she is part of two research studies on archives and AI. She is co-editor with Jens Boel of Recordkeeping in International Organizations: Archives in Transition in Digital, Networked Environments (Routledge, 2021).

In the digital era, the integrity and security of information are paramount. This virtual session aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the importance of Cyber Archives and their role in protecting organizational data from cyber threats. The session will cover essential topics such as cyber threats, the necessity for robust information security systems, and the practical implementation of Cyber Archives. Additionally, we will explore the strategies implemented by the UAE. 

This session will also cover the adoption of emerging technologies strategies, policies, and standards. That can be implemented to enhance digital records management. 

Hamad Al Mutairi is the director of the Archives Department at the National Library and Archives (NLA) of UAE. The Archives Department includes five sections: 1) Historical Archives, 2) Government Archives, 3) Presidential Archives, 4) Electronic Archives, and 5) Preservation and Restoration. Under his supervision, the NLA collaborated with the Sorbonne University - Abu Dhabi to launch three academic programs in records management and archival science. The Sorbonne programs include bachelor and master's programs in addition to a six-week course for professionals. The programs are the first of their kind in the region.

Al Mutairi is a member of the International Council on Archives (ICA) and co-chairs the Programs Committee for the ICA's Congress - Abu Dhabi 2023. He is a leading member of a number of local and regional councils and committees concerned with the development of archives and the standardization of records management practices. Al Mutairi is currently working on his doctoral dissertation about artificial intelligence applications in archiving and records management. Previous academic studies were on computer science and information technology.