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Hello World! I'm a tech anthro PhD studying civil society activism in the digital age @oiioxford and @turinginst In this talk I focus on some of their recent efforts to highlight the importance of #humanrights (rather than or in addition to #ethics) for #AI governance. 2/13
Much of the current debate in Europe and North-America has been focused on the importance of (industry-led) (voluntary) ethics frameworks for AI systems' design, development, deployment. Aka: the "ethics is fine" argument. 3/13
There are 70+ of such frameworks right now. Some of their principles overlap, some contradict. They share one clear common denominator: they are increasingly subjected to robust criticism. Neatly formulated as per below by @Alston_UNSR 4/13 #AI #ethics #HumanRights #civilsociety
But @Alston_UNSR finds himself in the good company of:
@davidakaye @datasociety @MannyMoss @undersequoias @zephoria @ThomasMetzinger @benwagner @VidushiMarda et al.
Please note that even architects of AI ethics frameworks have found themselves disappointed by..said frameworks
@davidakaye @datasociety @MannyMoss @undersequoias @zephoria @ThomasMetzinger @benwagner @VidushiMarda et al.
Please note that even architects of AI ethics frameworks have found themselves disappointed by..said frameworks
Which raises the question: if not ethics, then what? Some of the human rights activists I have spoken to had a clear answer: the international human rights framework
BECAUSE:
6/13
BECAUSE:
6/13
1. "Its the only internationally recognized legal system we have."
PS. @cpjvanveen and I wrote about that here: https://points.datasociety.net/artificial-intelligence-whats-human-rights-got-to-do-with-it-4622ec1566d5 7/13
PS. @cpjvanveen and I wrote about that here: https://points.datasociety.net/artificial-intelligence-whats-human-rights-got-to-do-with-it-4622ec1566d5 7/13
2. "Human rights have more teeth than ethics, it's less ephemeral and carries weight."
See this @article19org report for the details around that argument: https://www.article19.org/resources/governance-with-teeth-how-human-rights-can-strengthen-fat-and-ethics-initiatives-on-artificial-intelligence/ 8/13
See this @article19org report for the details around that argument: https://www.article19.org/resources/governance-with-teeth-how-human-rights-can-strengthen-fat-and-ethics-initiatives-on-artificial-intelligence/ 8/13
3. "It brings accountability and clear paths for redress and recourse in the case of state and corporate misuse of AI systems." 9/13
Some caveats:
Most of these folks are not saying ethics is irrelevant. Nor that current work done is w/o merit. They are concerned about the "turn to ethics" because it _can_ lack genuine commitment and accountability to a fairer society. 10/13
Most of these folks are not saying ethics is irrelevant. Nor that current work done is w/o merit. They are concerned about the "turn to ethics" because it _can_ lack genuine commitment and accountability to a fairer society. 10/13
Many ethical frameworks, they worry, also sidestep some of the most important ethical questions:
Should we be doing this at all?
Can we live with the impact of these systems?
Who profits, who suffers?
11/13
Should we be doing this at all?
Can we live with the impact of these systems?
Who profits, who suffers?
11/13
At the same time, human rights are not a panacea.
It comes with its own challenges: shrinking relevance, slow co-opted systems, focus on the state rather than corporations, individuals rather than groups, limited valence for addressing structural or economic inequality etc.
It comes with its own challenges: shrinking relevance, slow co-opted systems, focus on the state rather than corporations, individuals rather than groups, limited valence for addressing structural or economic inequality etc.
Concluding, it's complicated. But there is a clear role for human rights and civil society in the debate: to pull it towards actionable accountability, counter corporate incentives, and ask the most uncomfortable questions.
13/13
13/13
