Maldives Independent
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Responsible Use of AI Policy

Effective Date: 31/1/2025
The Maldives Independent (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in our operations and newsroom processes. This policy outlines our approach to integrating AI technologies in ways that uphold our values, protect our users, and ensure transparency.

1. Purpose of the Policy

The purpose of this policy is to:

Ensure that the use of AI aligns with our mission to provide accurate, fair, and unbiased journalism.

Maintain transparency about how AI is used in our processes and services.

Safeguard against potential harms or misuse of AI technologies.

2. Scope

This policy applies to all AI-driven processes, tools, and technologies used by The Maldives Independent to support newsroom operations, including but not limited to:

Proofreading and grammar checking.

Optimising workflows for content production.

Enhancing data analysis for editorial insights.

Importantly, we do not use AI to generate editorial content. All articles, reports, and features published by The Maldives Independent are created by human journalists.

3. Principles for Responsible AI Use

a. Accuracy and Reliability

AI tools used in our newsroom processes are selected and monitored to ensure accuracy and reliability. Human oversight will always be a critical component of our operations to maintain editorial quality.

b. Transparency

We are committed to informing our audience about the role of AI in supporting our operations. However, AI is not involved in the creation of any editorial content.

c. Privacy and Data Protection

AI systems that process user or operational data comply with our Privacy Policy and applicable laws. We prioritise the security and confidentiality of data in all AI applications.

d. Avoiding Bias

We strive to minimise bias in AI tools by:

Using diverse and representative datasets.

Regularly reviewing outputs from AI systems for unintended biases or errors.

e. Ethical Usage

We use AI solely to support and enhance newsroom processes, ensuring it does not compromise journalistic integrity or editorial independence.

4. Human Oversight

AI tools at The Maldives Independent are intended to assist in operational tasks such as proofreading or workflow optimisation. Editorial decisions, including story selection, writing, and editing, are made entirely by our human team.

5. User Interaction with AI

Currently, AI tools are not directly involved in user-facing interactions. Should we introduce AI-driven tools for user interaction in the future (e.g., chatbots), we will ensure:

Clear communication that the interaction involves AI.

Mechanisms for users to provide feedback and escalate concerns to human representatives.

6. Accountability and Monitoring

We regularly evaluate our AI tools to ensure compliance with this policy and:

Address any issues related to fairness, accuracy, or transparency.

Update systems and processes to reflect advancements in AI ethics and regulations.

Our team is trained to recognise and mitigate risks associated with AI usage in newsroom operations.

7. Reporting and Feedback

We encourage users and stakeholders to report concerns or provide feedback about our use of AI. Please contact us at editorial@maldivesindependent.com for inquiries or to report potential violations of this policy.

8. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy as AI technologies evolve. Any updates will be reflected here with a revised “Effective Date.” Continued use of our services after changes to this policy constitutes acceptance of the updated terms.

9. Contact Us

If you have questions about our Responsible Use of AI Policy, please contact:
Email: editorial@maldivesindependent.com