The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has issued a call for inputs to inform a thematic report on the relationship between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and racial discrimination. The report will be submitted by the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance, Dr. Ashwini KP, to the Human Rights Council.
The report aims to examine and analyze how AI technology affects non-discrimination and racial equality, as well as other international human rights standards. The Special Rapporteur intends to focus on the nexus between digital technologies and contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. The report will also complement the work of the Special Rapporteur’s predecessor on racial discrimination in the design and use of emerging digital technologies.
To achieve the report’s objectives, the Special Rapporteur is seeking inputs from stakeholders to inform her report on AI and racial discrimination to the Human Rights Council. The Special Rapporteur is encouraging stakeholders to provide reflections, lessons learned, and examples of how AI technology impacts human rights, including the potential impact of algorithm bias on racial discrimination in various contexts where AI is used, such as law enforcement, education, social media, healthcare, the criminal justice system, immigration and border management, and other relevant contexts.
The Special Rapporteur is also asking stakeholders to share their thoughts on national laws, regulations, or policies intended to prevent or prohibit racism, racial discrimination, and related intolerance resulting from the use of AI. Additionally, stakeholders are encouraged to provide information on measures taken to protect personal information and ensure that private actors and corporations respect human rights in the development and use of AI.
Submissions may be posted on the mandate’s website, but stakeholders may indicate their wish to keep their submissions confidential. The Special Rapporteur will use the inputs to inform her report to the Human Rights Council on AI and racial discrimination. For more information about the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism and the activities of the mandate, please click the link: https://www.ohchr.org/en/special-procedures/sr-racism.
Submission should be sent by e-mail to hrc-sr-racism@un.org.
The deadline for the submission of inputs is March 31, 2024.
