Generative AI and the Information Society: Ethical Reflections from Libraries

The integration of generative artificial intelligence (generative AI) into library systems is transforming the global information society, offering new possibilities for improving information access, management, and dissemination. However, these advancements also raise significant ethical concerns, including algorithmic bias, epistemic injustice, intellectual property conflicts, data privacy breaches, job displacement, the spread of misinformation, and increasing digital inequality. This review critically examines these challenges through the lens of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Action Line C10, which emphasizes the ethical dimensions of the information society. It argues that while such concerns are global, they are particularly acute in the Global South, where structural barriers such as skills shortages, weak policy frameworks, and limited infrastructure undermine equitable access to AI benefits. The review calls for a more inclusive, transparent, and ethically responsible approach to AI adoption in libraries. It underscores the essential role of libraries as stewards of ethical information practices and advocates for collaborative strategies to ensure that generative AI serves as a tool for empowerment, rather than a driver of deepening inequality in the information society.