Governance by Procurement: How AI Rights Became a Bilateral Negotiation


(Originally published on the Harvard Kennedy School website)

On February 26, 2026, the CEO of one of the world’s most powerful AI companies published an open letter refusing a government ultimatum. The Department of War had threatened to designate Anthropic a “supply chain risk”, a label reserved for U.S. adversaries, never before applied to an American company, and to invoke the Defense Production Act to compel the removal of two safeguards: prohibitions on mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons. Dario Amodei refused. Within 24 hours, the Pentagon followed through, blacklisting Anthropic as a national security risk and ordering all military contractors to immediately cease commercial activity with the company. Anthropic said it would fight the designation in court.

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The Unfinished Fight for Data Protection: Power, Privacy, and Control in the Age of AI

Data Privacy(Originally published on the Harvard Kennedy School website)

Data is not an abstract resource; it is an extension of who we are.

On December 10, 1948, the international community adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 12 is unequivocal: “No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy”. Nearly eighty years later, that promise feels increasingly hollow.

In the physical world, the boundaries of privacy are clear and widely accepted. We do not take our neighbor’s car without permission. We do not enter their home, sleep in their bed, or rummage through their drawers in their absence. If we do, the law intervenes. Privacy is understood as a basic condition of dignity and freedom.

So why have we failed to apply these same principles to the digital world?

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Technology, Power, and the Reframing of Human Rights Responsibilities

UN

(Originally published on the Harvard Kennedy School website)

On Wednesday, 7 January, the Trump administration announced the withdrawal of the United States from 66 organizations, half of which are linked to the UN. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the oldest agency in the UN system, is not affected. Nevertheless, the administration had already set the tone during the ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference, held last November in Baku, signaling a clear recalibration of its engagement within the UN system.

In a plenary statement, the U.S. delegation announced its disengagement from several ad hoc groups, arguing that negotiations had drifted from the ITU’s core mandate into ideological or politicized territory. It called for a “back to basics” approach, limiting the ITU’s work to telecommunications and ICT development, and rejected references it viewed as infringing on national sovereignty, including the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals.

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From Policy to Procurement: Operationalizing Trustworthy AI

When AI Meets Public Contracts: Bridging the Gap Between Principles and Practice

Session at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva

In Geneva and beyond, much of the debate on AI governance still revolves around abstraction—principles, ethical frameworks, good intentions. Yet as AI becomes embedded in the machinery of both states and corporations, an urgent question arises: how do we ensure that public procurement and deployment of AI respects human dignity?

This is the focus of a new report from the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights. Titled Artificial Intelligence Procurement and Deployment: Ensuring Alignment with the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, it addresses a critical blind spot: what happens when public institutions and private actors use—but do not develop—AI systems?

I had the opportunity to be consulted during the preparation of this report. I believe it marks a necessary step forward. But it is only a step.

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Losing Control: AI Giants, National Security, and the Case for Smarter Governance

Entrance Sign for the Expert Workshop on AI, Rule of Law, and Human Rights — Geneva, 8 May 2025

Entrance Sign for the Expert Workshop on AI, Rule of Law, and Human Rights — Geneva, 8 May 2025

I was invited last week to participate in an Expert Meeting on the Rule of Law and Human Rights Aspects of Using Artificial Intelligence for Counter-Terrorism Purposes, organized by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy in partnership with the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate and the Swiss government. The discussions, though focused on legal safeguards, surveillance, and freedom of expression, brought into sharp focus a broader question: who actually governs AI today?

And perhaps more urgently: can public institutions still govern it alone?

This raises a fundamental challenge for the future of democratic governance: are we witnessing the erosion of public control over technologies that increasingly define our societies?

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Governing Data and AI in Sensitive Contexts: Reflections from CSTD28

Panel Discussion on Data and AI Governance at the United Nations, CSTD28 Side Event – Geneva, April 2025

Panel Discussion on Data and AI Governance at the United Nations, CSTD28 Side Event – Geneva, April 2025

On April 9, 2025, I had the honour of moderating the second panel of the OHCHR side event at the 28th session of the UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development (CSTD), held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The session, titled “Data and AI Governance in Human Rights-Sensitive Contexts”, was part of a broader event exploring frameworks and use cases for responsible AI deployment.

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Building Trustworthy AI: Aligning Standards with Public Interest and Integrity

Panel Discussion: Towards a Global Response to AI and Human Rights - Side Event for the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Session - March 21, 2025

Panel Discussion: Towards a Global Response to AI and Human Rights – Side Event for the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) Session 58th – March 21, 2025

In a world increasingly shaped by algorithmic systems, the question of trust in technology has become central. Over the past months in Geneva, I participated in several gatherings of policymakers, experts, and diplomats focused on aligning artificial intelligence with human rights.

As part of the UN’s standardization community, I see daily how complex it is to shape global standards for emerging technologies. Yet we also have a responsibility to ensure that these standards do not harm anyone.

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Reflections from the AI Standards Hub Global Summit

Panel discussion

Panel discussion

On March 17, 2025, I had the opportunity to speak at the AI Standards Hub Global Summit in London, joining a panel on “The Role of Civil Society and Human Rights Expertise in Shaping AI Standards.” This discussion, featuring experts from civil society, technical standardization, and policymaking, underscored a crucial reality: AI standards are not just technical tools—they are governance mechanisms that shape societal outcomes.
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White Paper: Promoting and Advancing Human Rights in Global AI Ecosystems

Promoting and Advancing Human Rights in Global AI Ecosystems

Promoting and Advancing Human Rights in Global AI Ecosystems

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping societies, influencing everything from decision-making processes to international relations. While its transformative power holds immense potential, AI also raises critical concerns about human autonomy, privacy, discrimination, and accountability. The governance of AI must align with human rights principles, yet the current regulatory landscape remains fragmented and inconsistent.

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