Human Rights & ICT Standardisation

Webinar on Human Rights and ICT Standardisation

Webinar on Human Rights and ICT Standardisation

(Originally published on the hsbooster website)

On Thursday 6th June 2024 (15:30 – 17:30 CEST) the CSA European Commission funded project StandICT.eu 2026, in collaboration with the HSBooster.eu project, discussed amongst experts working on human rights and standards, the issue of how to ensure Human Rights are considered and dealt with when addressing technical specifications in ICT standardisation.

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Trust in Tech: Navigating Emerging Technologies and Human Rights in a Connected World

Panel discussion at WSIS

Panel discussion at WSIS+20

(Originally published on the ITU website)

In our rapidly evolving digital landscape, emerging technologies are shaping our world in profound ways, offering immense opportunities for progress, but also presenting complex challenges. Moreover, technical standards play a foundational role in ensuring the interoperability, compatibility, and security of emerging technologies. As we embrace innovations such as artificial intelligence, it becomes increasingly crucial to ensure that these advancements uphold human rights and foster trust among users.

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Shaping a Sustainable Future: The Role of Standards and Policy in Ethical AI Development

Zoom screenshot

Zoom screenshot

(Originally published on Youtube)

Join us on an exploration of the pivotal role of standards and policy in guiding AI and human-machine teaming toward a sustainable and dignified future. Our esteemed speakers will shed light on how adherence to these frameworks mitigates technology misuse, safeguarding human rights, and nurturing compassion. Gain invaluable insights into how AI can drive positive change, fostering inclusivity and upholding human and planetary flourishing. Together we can shape a future where ethical AI development leads the way to a more sustainable, prosperous society.

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IA : qui pour la réglementer ?

Sur la scène principale du FIFDH 2024 à Genève

Sur la scène principale du FIFDH 2024 à Genève

(Publié à l’origine sur le site web du FIFDH)

En monétisant nos données, les géants BigTech ont engendré une immense concentration de pouvoir économique et financier. Aujourd’hui, un scénario identique mais aux conséquences plus vertigineuses encore se dessine : l’intelligence artificielle générative.

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Telecommunication Standardization Bureau activities about Human Rights and Standards

TD presentation during the TSAG plenary

TD presentation during the TSAG plenary

(Originally published on the ITU website)

Embedding human rights in digital technologies is currently one of the United Nations’ priorities. On February 24, 2023, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, explained the importance of taking human rights into account in technical standards at a high-level meeting at the World Standards Cooperation (WSC). This was reported to the last TSAG meeting (TD213).

ITU Council discussed this subject as well in its July 2023 meeting (see C74 and C49). In recent months, the Human Rights Council has updated two resolutions on human rights applied to digital technologies. Resolution (A/HRC/RES/53/29) “New and emerging digital technologies and human rights”, updated on July 14, 2023, and resolution (A/HRC/54/L.12) “The right to privacy in the digital age”, updated on October 6, 2023.

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The Interplay Between Human Rights and Technology

The Interplay Between Human Rights and Technology

(Originally published on the ITU website)

To celebrated the Human Rights Day, annually on 10 December, we invited the leading experts within the field of human rights in cyberspace during our Episode 39: “The Interplay Between Human Rights and Technology” and explored the complex relationship between human rights and the digital realm.

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AI for Humanity: AI based on Human Rights (WorldBank)

eWeek

eWeek

(Originally published on the Dig Watch website)

Governments are increasingly using AI to improve efficiency or lower the costs of public services by automating decision-making in public services. At the same time, such algorithmic systems can also cause harm human rights (through reinforcing discrimination and undermining the privacy of digital personal data, e.g.), and frequently lack transparency and accountability in their implementation and use. Governments do not yet have a consistent means evaluating the impact of such systems on fundamental Human Rights. The goal of this session is to help better identify potential risks that may arise in connection with including certain AI/machine learning activities may impact human rights.

UNGPs lens to managing human rights risks from Generative AI

UNGPs lens to managing human rights risks from Generative AI

UNGPs lens to managing human rights risks from Generative AI

(Originally published on the UN website)

This panel discussion session convened by the UN B-Tech Project (“B-Tech”) at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights will discuss how human rights risks associated with generative artificial intelligence (“generative AI”) can be addressed through application of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (“UNGPs”). Serving as the official launch for a series of B-Tech papers examining the human rights dimensions of generative AI, this session will explore (1) how the development, deployment, and use of these systems may pose risks to human rights; and (2) how company and State action to address these risks should be informed by the UNGPs. The session will feature panelists representing the UN human rights office, generative AI developers, civil society, and other stakeholders.

Spotlight Series on Human-Centric Digital Transformation

Spotlight Series on Human-Centric Digital Transformation

Spotlight Series on Human-Centric Digital Transformation

(Originally published on the ITU website)

A Concluding Workshop is planned for December 2023 or January 2024, gathering stakeholders from previous workshops and senior officials from participating countries to discuss final conclusions and recommendations, challenges to implementation and related solutions, as well as trends in human-centric design within digital development.

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Digital freedoms in french-speaking African countries

Digital freedoms in French-speaking African countries

(Originally published in AFD)

As digital penetration increases in countries across the African continent, its citizens face growing risks and challenges. Indeed, beyond facilitated access to knowledge such as the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, to leisure-related tools such as Youtube, and to sociability such as social networks, digital technology offers an unprecedented space for democratic expression.

However, these online civic spaces are under threat. Several governments have enacted vaguely-defined laws, allowing for random arrests.

Several countries have implemented repressive practices restricting freedom of expression and access to information. This is what is known as “digital authoritarianism”, which is on the rise in many countries.

This report takes stock of digital freedoms in 26 French-speaking African countries, and proposes concrete actions to improve citizen participation and democracy.