AI Ethics on the Global Stage: A Deep Dive into UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence
- Davies Parker
- Feb 19
- 2 min read
Introduction
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly evolves and integrates into various aspects of daily life, ethical considerations related to AI have become increasingly important. Addressing ethical considerations like fairness, transparency, and accountability helps promote the responsible use, development and governance of AI technologies.
The 41st session of The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris in November 2021 addressed the pressing ethical issues surrounding AI. The Recommendations on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (The Recommendations), a comprehensive set of recommendations on the moral problems related to AI in education, culture, communication and information, was discussed and officially adopted on 23rd November 2021.
Scope
The Recommendation addresses ethical issues related to AI to the extent that it falls within the mandate of UNESCO. This means it addresses the broader ethical implications of AI systems about education, culture, communication and information.
This Recommendation applies to member states, both as AI actors and as authorities responsible for developing regulations and overseeing AI governance. Furthermore, it also provides ethical guidance to all other AI-related actors by providing a basis for analyzing or examining the ethical Impact of AI systems.
Principles
The recommendations aim to respect, protect, and promote human rights, fundamental freedoms, and human dignity while ensuring flourishing environments and ecosystems. They also emphasize ensuring diversity, inclusiveness, and interconnected societies. The ethical principles delved into by the Recommendations address these values.
Proportionality and not harm: AI processes must be proportionate and context-appropriate, with risk assessments and preventive measures to protect humans, society, and the environment. AI should not be used for social scoring or mass surveillance.
Fairness and non-discrimination: AI actors must promote fairness, social justice and non-discrimination, ensuring inclusive access, tackling digital divides and minimizing bias. Advanced nations should share AI benefits globally.
Safety and security: Unwanted harms from safety and security risks should be eliminated with sustainable and privacy-protection-centric frameworks ensuring quality AI training and validation data.
Sustainability: Continuous assessment of the impact of AI on sustainability, as reflected in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, must be conducted and tailored to the development needs of each country.
Right to privacy and data protection: It is essential for data processing practices to comply with international law and UNESCO recommendations, with strong data protection frameworks and accountability for safeguarding personal information.
Human oversight: It must be ensured that ethical and legal responsibility AI systems have human accountability and oversight, with ultimate decision-making responsibility remaining with humans.
Transparency and explainability: Transparency and Explainability are crucial for ensuring the protection of human rights, freedoms, ethical principles and public trust. Transparency and meaningful explanations must be provided for high-risk AI decisions.
Responsibility and accountability: AI actors and states must respect human rights and the environment, with clear responsibility and accountability, including oversight, audits and impact assessments.
Awareness and literacy: Public understanding of AI must be promoted through accessible education, digital skills training and civic engagements led by various stakeholders.
Multi-stakeholder collaboration and adaptive Governance: It is essential to engage diverse stakeholders in AI governance, adapt to technological changes, and respect data self-governance.
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