RightsX Summit: Human Rights needs Innovation, Innovation needs Human Rights
Professor Claudia Roda was invited to speak at the high-level dialogue, organized by the UN Office of the High Commissioner in Human Rights, as part of the RightsX Summit. The theme of the session was Human Rights needs Innovation, Innovation needs Human Rights.
Professor Roda highlighted two aspects that are reshaping the environment in which human rights must be protected and promoted. First, on a principles level, it is important to move away from a dichotomy by which machines and data are either the ultimate unbiased, secure, error-free solution, or the source of all problems. We need to recognize the different aspects involved in current conversations about AI (quality of the technology, technology governance and use, physical/social/political/economic contexts, …) and analyze more critically the frequently mentioned concept of innovation: innovation is not good by default, there are good and bad innovations, Roda says. Second, she pointed to the issue of concentration of digital resources (hardware, software, labor) which she sees as needing to be addressed urgently. Roda pointed out that his concentration has already generated a loss of control that impacts citizens, public and private institutions, and even states, creating significant geopolitical pressure. She argued that we must move towards a plurality of offers and much greater transparency and openness, to reestablish agency of both citizens and institutions. Finally she warned that the current concentration of resources creates significant security issues with a few big companies in the positions of cutting off (willingly or by mistake) vital services in multiple countries.