UN experts say procurement, deployment of AI must be aligned with human rights
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Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
UN experts* today called on Member States and businesses to ensure that the procurement and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) systems are aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.
‘AI systems are transforming our societies, but without proper safeguards, they risk undermining human rights,’ said Lyra Jakulevičienė, Chairperson of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, presenting a report to the 59th session of the Human Rights Council.
In the report, the Working Group noted that States are increasingly shifting from voluntary guidelines to binding legislation on AI and human rights, but regulatory landscape is still fragmented and lacks universal standards with agreed definitions and integration of the perspective of the Global South.
‘The exceptions are broad and involvement of civil society is limited,’ they said.
The experts outlined how AI systems – when procured or deployed without adequate human rights due diligence in line with the Guiding Principles – can lead to adverse impacts on all human rights, including discrimination, privacy violations and exclusion, particularly for at-risk groups including women, children and minorities.
They stressed that both public and private actors must conduct robust human rights impact assessments and ensure transparency, accountability, oversight and access to remedy
‘States must act as responsible regulators, procurers and deployers of AI,’ Jakulevičienė said. ‘They must set clear red lines on AI systems that are fundamentally incompatible with human rights, such as those used for remote real-time facial recognition, mass surveillance or predictive policing.’
The Working Group stressed the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights across the AI lifecycle, including when using third-party AI systems.
‘Businesses cannot outsource their human rights responsibilities,’ the experts said. ‘Businesses must ensure meaningful stakeholder engagement throughout the procurement and deployment processes, especially with those most at risk of harm.’
‘We need urgent global cooperation to ensure that AI systems are procured and deployed in ways that uphold human rights, and ensure access to remedy for any AI-related human rights abuses,’ Jakulevičienė said.
In the report, the Working Group outlined emerging practices by States and businesses, and made recommendations to States, businesses, and other actors on how to incorporate the Guiding Principles on business and human rights into AI procurement and deployment.
* The experts are
- Lyra Jakulevičienė (Chairperson)
- Pichamon Yeophantong (Vice-Chairperson)
- Robert McCorquodale
- Fernanda Hopenhaym, and
- Damilola Olawuyi
Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council.
Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council.
Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work.
While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organisation, including OHCHR and the UN.
Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR.
- This was first published here
