AI & Equality Community Commentary on OHCHR Call on AI and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

As members of the AI & Equality Community, we answer three of the questions posed by the UN Working Group. Following are the selected questions and a summary of our answers:

1. What do you consider are the main human rights risks linked to the procurement and deployment of AI systems by States and in which area?

We detail six key risks: risk of procuring the wrong types of systems, of losing digital sovereignty, of perpetuating bias, of reduced transparency or training to conduct sufficiently rigorous procurements, lack of accountability and required legal frameworks; and finally risks related to data privacy and security.

2. Joint answer: Are there any policies, regulations or frameworks taken at the national, regional and international levels to address the human rights risks linked to the procurement and/or deployment of AI by States?
Are there any emerging positive business practices that include human rights requirements when procuring and deploying AI? Please provide examples.

In response we share examples of beneficial practices to reduce risks to human rights or even help to promote their fulfilment.

3. How can businesses and States meaningfully engage with relevant stakeholders, including potentially affected right holders and workers, to identify and address adverse human rights impacts related to the procurement and deployment of AI? Please provide examples.

Here we present actions that can help to harness these benefits of Stakeholder Engagement for the development of AI systems.