“The computer said it was OK!”: human rights (and other) implications of manipulative design
By Dr. Silvia De Conca
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Credit: Silva de Conca
This is Part 2 of a two-part series.
On November 19th, 2021, the “Human Rights in the Digital Age” working group of the NNHRR held a multidisciplinary workshop on the legal implications of ‘online manipulation’. This is Part 2 of a two-part series.
Manipulative design, autonomy, and human rights.
By turning individuals into means to an end, manipulative design infringes on their dignity, because it affects their intrinsic value as human beings. Manipulative design is a constraint to individual autonomy, whether it is used for ‘paternalistic’ policymaking or by companies for profit. More...
Artificial Intelligence & Human Rights: Friend or Foe?
By Alberto Quintavalla and Jeroen Temperman
The problem
Artificial intelligence (‘AI’) applications can have a significant impact on human rights. This impact can be twofold. On the one hand, it may contribute to the advancement of human rights. A striking example is the use of machine learning in healthcare to improve precision medicine so that patients would receive better care. On the other hand, it can pose an obvious risk to the respect of human rights. Unfortunately, there are countless examples. Perhaps the most obvious one is the use of algorithms discriminating against ethnic minorities and women. More...
Eclipsing Human Rights: Why the International Regulation of Military AI is not Limited to International Humanitarian Law
By Taylor Woodcock
Much has been written on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for society. The surge in recent technological advancements that seek to leverage the benefits of AI and machine learning techniques have raised a host of questions about the adverse impacts of AI on human rights. Yet, when it comes to the debate on military applications of AI, the framework of international human rights law (IHRL) tends to receive rather cursory treatment. Greater examination of the relevance of IHRL is therefore necessary in order to more comprehensively address the legality of the development, acquisition and use of AI-enabled military technologies under international law. More...