AI international solidarity approach urgently needed to unite humanity, says Independent Expert

NEW YORK – In an increasingly polarised world, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to unite humanity, an independent human rights expert said today.

“Those living in poverty, and in situations of vulnerability are particularly affected by the expansion of AI surveillance which is being used by States as a tool of ‘over-policing’ marginalised communities,” said Cecilia Bailliet, the Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity, in a report to the UN General Assembly.

“I have grave concerns about when the use of AI violates the right to privacy due to facial recognition; discrimination against women, persons with disabilities and minorities, among others, in hiring; or the denial of self-realisation of life goals (or a life’s project) such as denial of requests for housing or educational loans.”

“It is imperative to identify intersectoral vulnerabilities to AI discrimination, including race, ethnicity, religion, gender, location, nationality and socioeconomic status,” Bailliet said.

“The concentration of power among the technology companies and AI developers, is concerning, and poses a significant risk to worsening the digital divide between and within countries and among different sectors of society,” the expert said.

“Despite the risks, there is also an opportunity for AI to be used as a unifying force, by creating preventive and reactive solidarity mechanisms to address disinformation and misinformation campaigns that result in societal violence or in the harassment, surveillance, discrimination or disproportional censorship of structurally silenced communities,” Bailliet said.

She called upon States, corporations, and civil society to promote a global multistakeholder AI international solidarity governance model to promote the full inclusion of vulnerable groups and individuals in data processing and decision making in the life cycle of AI.

A press briefing on the report will take place today at 11:00 a.m. at UN Secretariat building, Press Briefing Room: S-236 (2nd Floor).