United Nations: OHCHR report was presented on the application of guiding principles on business and human rights to technology companies and AI
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights presented a report during the 59th session of the Human Rights Council on the practical application of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights to the activities of technology companies, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI), exploring how States and companies that design, develop and implement AI can apply the Guiding Principles to improve the protection and respect of human rights.
The report highlights how the acceleration of innovation in AI is rapidly transforming the world of work, bringing both new opportunities and significant challenges for the protection of human rights. It underscores the crucial importance of clarifying the role and duties of States and the responsibilities of companies in the development and implementation of AI to ensure a system based on responsible innovation that benefits all of humanity. The document also addresses current concerns related to AI, such as discrimination, privacy violations, emphasising data protection and privacy issues, and the fragmentation of labor markets. It then highlights the challenges related to data collection, processing, and analysis in the technology sector, as well as the often exploitative working conditions of workers involved in data enrichment for AI.
The report provides a series of concrete recommendations to States, companies developing and implementing AI, and investors: for States, it suggests adopting regulatory frameworks that ensure respect for human rights in AI products and services, requiring companies to conduct human rights due diligence throughout the entire AI lifecycle. It also recommends ensuring access to effective remedies for AI-related human rights violations and promoting coherence between different policy areas addressing AI governance. For companies, the report recommends adopting a human rights-based approach in the development and implementation of AI, conducting human rights due diligence, establishing effective grievance mechanisms, and engaging meaningfully with stakeholder groups. It also emphasises the importance of monitoring the effectiveness of actions to mitigate gender impacts and communicating transparently about human rights performance and risks. For investors, it focuses on their responsibility to prioritise activities and companies that in turn focus on the respect for human rights in using and developing AI.
The report aims to reaffirm the fundamental role of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which offer crucial support to both states and companies in responding to the challenge of how societies can reap the benefits of AI while mitigating the substantial risks it poses. Finally, it encourages the Human Rights Council to continue its commitment to the practical application of the Guiding Principles. It also recommends continuing to document and identify the human rights risks posed by the development and implementation of AI.