The Algorithm and the Setback

On Wednesday, 11 November, NORDREF, Samtökin ‘78, Transfeminiinit and OFSI held a conference at Grand Hótel Reykjavík on how algorithms, AI and disinformation shape the conversation about LGBTQ rights and gender equality in the Nordic region. The conference was held in English, was open to everyone and free to attend.

Halla Tómasdóttir, President of Iceland, gave the opening remarks. Nelli Ruotsalainen of Transfeminiinit presented a new research report, and Axel Bjarki from the Ombudsman for Children’s Advisory Group responded to its findings.

Two panels discussed who shapes our views on LGBTQ rights and how the Nordic values of democracy and equality can be protected. Panelists included María Rut Kristinsdóttir, Member of Parliament; Kári Garðarsson, Executive Director of Samtökin ‘78; Einar Þorsteinsson, Reykjavík City Councillor; Haukur Brynjarsson of Netvís; and Kjartan Dall-Larsen of TikTok. The project Find Your (Algo)Rhythm, which aims to empower young people and parents in Iceland and Finland, was also presented. Bjarndís Helga Tómasdóttir, Chair of Samtökin ‘78, gave the closing remarks.

Two members of Trans Allies attended the conference. What stayed with us most was how differently the generations experience social media and AI. Our children and young people are growing up inside this world, and what the algorithms show them shapes how they understand themselves and how others see them. Among the topics discussed was how to protect children from harmful content and from covert debate that calls the very existence of trans people into question. Such debate rarely appears as open hostility, but rather as “questions” or “concerns,” which is why it is so easy for adults to miss.

We thank the organisers for an important initiative. Link to the report.