SESRIC will co-organise a high-level panel titled “Strengthening Ethical Safeguards and Transparency Mechanisms in the Use of Advanced Data Technologies” within the framework of the United Nations World Data Forum 2026, to be held on 9–12 November 2026 in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The session will be co-organised by SESRIC in collaboration with the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Bringing together representatives of national statistical offices, international and regional organisations, academia and other stakeholders from across the data ecosystem, the panel will address practical approaches for strengthening ethical safeguards, transparency mechanisms and accountability frameworks in the use of advanced data technologies within official statistics and national data systems.

As national statistical offices and other data-producing institutions increasingly adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Big Data analytics, administrative data systems and other emerging technologies, the need to ensure responsible, transparent and trustworthy data use has become more critical than ever. In this context, the panel will explore how ethical principles can be translated into operational practices that support innovation while safeguarding privacy, fairness, and public trust.

The discussion will focus on the institutional, legal, technical and governance arrangements required to maintain ethical oversight and transparency across the data value chain, including data collection, integration, processing, analysis, dissemination and reuse. It will also address key issues such as privacy protection, algorithmic transparency and explainability, bias mitigation, data security, responsible data sharing and institutional accountability.

The panel will further examine systemic challenges faced by national statistical systems, including skills gaps, interoperability constraints, fragmented governance arrangements and limited institutional capacities. Particular attention will be given to the needs and priorities of developing countries, including OIC member countries, with a view to ensuring that ethical safeguards are practical, scalable and responsive to diverse national contexts.

The session will also showcase relevant experiences and case snapshots from SESRIC, GASTAT, international organisations and selected national statistical systems. These examples will demonstrate how transparency mechanisms, ethical review processes and governance frameworks can contribute to improving data quality, strengthening public confidence and supporting the responsible use of advanced technologies for sustainable development.

Participants will engage in discussions on practical and scalable actions that national statistical offices and wider national statistical systems can adopt to ensure the ethical and transparent deployment of advanced data technologies. The panel is expected to contribute to the broader global dialogue on building trust, protection and ethics in data, which constitutes one of the core thematic areas of the United Nations World Data Forum 2026.

The United Nations World Data Forum serves as a global platform bringing together data and statistics experts, policymakers, development partners, civil society, academia and other stakeholders to promote innovation, partnerships and practical solutions for advancing sustainable development through better data.