Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence and human rights

The use and abuse of AI and automated decision-making can not only facilitate human rights violations and exacerbate existing societal power imbalances, but also open new risks, disproportionately affecting marginalized people and communities. AI design, development, and deployment must respect human rights. We urge governments and companies to follow binding, enforceable legal frameworks rooted in human rights law and principles, not voluntary or self-regulatory ethics-based approaches.

Algorithmic accountability

What you need to know about generative AI and human rights

In this explainer piece, we’re cutting through the hype to get to the truth about what generative AI can (and can’t) do, and why it matters for human rights worldwide.

SPOTLIGHT: EU AI ACT

AI Act

Artificial Intelligence

The EU AI Act proposal: a timeline

A summary of our proposed amendments to the draft EU AI Act and a timeline of our related commentary and recommendations.

ITFlows artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence

The EU AI Act: How to (truly) protect people on the move

The EU AI Act is supposed to protect the rights of everyone impacted by AI systems. But it ignores the systems impacting people on the move. Here are three steps policymakers can take to fix that problem.

ITFlows artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence

The EU needs an Artificial Intelligence Act that protects fundamental rights

Access Now and over 110 civil society organisations have laid out proposals to make sure the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act addresses the real-world impacts of the use of artificial intelligence.

Algorithmic accountability

Artificial Intelligence

The EU should regulate AI on the basis of rights, not risks

Artificial intelligence and automated decision-making systems threaten our fundamental rights. Yet the EU is considering an approach to AI regulation that would substitute rights-based protections for a mere risk mitigation exercise by corporations with a vested interest in these systems. Here’s why that’s a grave mistake.

Resources

Algorithmic accountability

Artificial Intelligence

What you need to know about generative AI and human rights

Generative AI has been all over the headlines. But what are the human rights implications? Get the facts in our generative AI FAQ.

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Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence: what are the issues for digital rights?

You may have a basic understanding of what AI is. But are you familiar with the issues it raises for your fundamental rights?

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Artificial Intelligence

Fighting systemic racism in the digital age: a global challenge

On Human Rights Day of 2020, we highlight the mandate of E. Tendayi Achiume, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to fight systematic racism.

Myanmar CCTV camera

Digital Security

Track and target: FAQ on Myanmar CCTV cameras and facial recognition

The military junta in Myanmar is rolling out China-made CCTV cameras with facial recognition capabilities to intensify surveillance against the people.

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Artificial Intelligence

Computers are binary, people are not: how AI systems undermine LGBTQ identity

Most of us interact with some sort of Artificial Intelligence (AI) system several times a day, whether it’s using the predictive text function on our phones or applying a selfie

Algorithmic accountability

Artificial Intelligence

Algorithmic decision-making in the U.S. needs accountability

Access Now endorses the Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2022, which will help combat algorithmic discrimination in defense of human rights.

Reconocimiento facial

Artificial Intelligence

Instead of banning facial recognition, some governments in Latin America want to make it official

Buenos Aires, Brasilia, and Uruguay are pushing for use of facial recognition systems for “public security,” seeking to authorize the invasive and harmful use of mass surveillance tools. Civil society must fight back.

Latest Updates

Watermark and generative AI
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Watermarking & generative AI: what, how, why (and why not) 

28 Sep 2023

How can we identify content produced by generative AI tools? One solution being touted is watermarking – but what are the human rights risks?

Post
Watermarking & generative AI: what, how, why (and why not) 
28 Sep 2023
Watermarking & generative AI: what, how, why (and why not) 
Watermark and generative AI
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Identifying generative AI content: when and how watermarking can help uphold human rights

28 Sep 2023

Access Now’s paper on how we can identify content produced by generative AI tools. One solution being touted is watermarking – but what are the human rights risks?

Publication
Identifying generative AI content: when and how watermarking can help uphold human rights
28 Sep 2023
Identifying generative AI content: when and how watermarking can help uphold human rights
Image: AI's human rights impact
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Civil society groups want broader restrictions on biometrics use in AI Act

21 Sep 2023
News
Civil society groups want broader restrictions on biometrics use in AI Act
Biometric Update ↗
21 Sep 2023
Civil society groups want broader restrictions on biometrics use in AI Act
AI Act
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

EU policymakers: regulate police technology!

20 Sep 2023

Civil society calls on EU policymakers to regulate policy technology.

Press Release
EU policymakers: regulate police technology!
20 Sep 2023
EU policymakers: regulate police technology!
AI Act
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Joint statement: EU legislators must close dangerous loophole in AI Act

7 Sep 2023

Big Tech has lobbied to introduce a major loophole to the EU AI Act’s high-risk classification process. We call on EU legislators to maintain a high level of protection in the AI Act. 

Press Release
Joint statement: EU legislators must close dangerous loophole in AI Act
7 Sep 2023
Joint statement: EU legislators must close dangerous loophole in AI Act
Transparency
Transparency

An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next

31 Aug 2023

We explain the challenges and exclusion some participants faced, apologize and take accountability for our role, and share thoughts on the road ahead.

Post
An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next
31 Aug 2023
An open letter to the RightsCon community about RightsCon Costa Rica and what comes next
ITFlows artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Rules to keep AI in check: nations carve different paths for tech regulation

17 Aug 2023
News
Rules to keep AI in check: nations carve different paths for tech regulation
17 Aug 2023
Rules to keep AI in check: nations carve different paths for tech regulation
Algorithmic accountability
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

AI isn’t great at decoding human emotions. So why are regulators targeting the tech?

14 Aug 2023
News
AI isn’t great at decoding human emotions. So why are regulators targeting the tech?
MIT Technology Review ↗
14 Aug 2023
AI isn’t great at decoding human emotions. So why are regulators targeting the tech?
Algorithmic accountability
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Early adopters in Mexico lend their eyes to global biometric project

8 Aug 2023
News
Early adopters in Mexico lend their eyes to global biometric project
Reuters ↗
8 Aug 2023
Early adopters in Mexico lend their eyes to global biometric project
Algorithmic accountability
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

POLÉMICA por WORLDCOIN en ARGENTINA: ¿se recomendable entregar los datos de tu IRIS por DÓLARES?

7 Aug 2023
News
POLÉMICA por WORLDCOIN en ARGENTINA: ¿se recomendable entregar los datos de tu IRIS por DÓLARES?
Canal 10 ↗
7 Aug 2023
POLÉMICA por WORLDCOIN en ARGENTINA: ¿se recomendable entregar los datos de tu IRIS por DÓLARES?
ITFlows artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Vietnam orders social media firms to cut ‘toxic’ content using AI

28 Jul 2023
News
Vietnam orders social media firms to cut ‘toxic’ content using AI
Voice of America ↗
28 Jul 2023
Vietnam orders social media firms to cut ‘toxic’ content using AI
Algorithmic accountability
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

SHIFT – Leben in der digitalen Welt

28 Jul 2023
News
SHIFT – Leben in der digitalen Welt
Deutsche Welle ↗
28 Jul 2023
SHIFT – Leben in der digitalen Welt
Image: AI's human rights impact
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

Civil society groups call on EU to put human rights at centre of AI Act

13 Jul 2023
News
Civil society groups call on EU to put human rights at centre of AI Act
Computer Weekly ↗
13 Jul 2023
Civil society groups call on EU to put human rights at centre of AI Act
Image: AI's human rights impact
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

EU Trilogues: The AI Act must protect people’s rights

12 Jul 2023

As EU trilogues on the AI Act kick off, Access Now and partners call on institutions to put fundamental rights first.

Press Release
EU Trilogues: The AI Act must protect people’s rights
12 Jul 2023
EU Trilogues: The AI Act must protect people’s rights
ITFlows artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

The EU still needs to get its AI Act together

29 Jun 2023
News
The EU still needs to get its AI Act together
The Verge ↗
29 Jun 2023
The EU still needs to get its AI Act together
Algorithmic accountability
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence

A conversation with Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal

22 Jun 2023
News
A conversation with Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal
22 Jun 2023
A conversation with Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal