RESPONSE TO CALL FOR INPUTS: THE USE OF ARTIFICAL INTELLIGENCE 
&
THE UN GUIDING PRINCIPLES ON BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

This report critically examines the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) applications and human rights, focusing on key areas where AI deployment by states and businesses has raised significant ethical, legal, and social concerns. It provides a comprehensive analysis of AI driven technologies across multiple domains, including public health, policing, welfare programs, automated weapon systems, education, banking, workforce management, and healthcare.

 

The report highlights how AI systems, despite their potential benefits, can lead to human rights violations due to biases in datasets, opaque decision-making processes, and a lack of adequate regulatory oversight. For instance, the use of facial recognition technology (FRT) in public health and policing has raised concerns about privacy, mass surveillance, and discrimination. Similarly, predictive policing models have been shown to reinforce systemic biases by disproportionately targeting marginalized communities, leading to over-policing and exacerbating social inequalities. Moreover, the report addresses AI’s implications for the right to due process, freedom of expression, and non-discrimination, emphasizing real-world examples such as the COMPAS algorithm’s role in sentencing and the impact of biased AI in hiring practices. In automated warfare, AI’s unpredictability raises concerns about accountability and potential violations of relevant laws.  

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To mitigate these risks, the report advocates for efficient regulatory frameworks, including mandatory Human Rights Impact Assessments (HRIAs) and Algorithmic Impact Assessments (AIAs), enforceable human rights due-diligence obligations, and strict governance mechanisms for high-risk AI applications. Drawing from international legal principles, it underscores the need for proportionality, necessity, and legislative backing in AI deployments, urging policymakers to implement ethical AI frameworks that balance innovation with fundamental human rights protections.