Whitepaper: Human Rights and Technology

Summary

Learn more about how Australia can foster innovation and protect human rights through the application of technologies such as ethical AI.

Whitepaper: Human Rights and Technology

Human rights

Report

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Ethical AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) can enable prediction and problem-solving approaches that save the lives of seriously ill hospital patients. Yet AI can also be used in ways that threaten human rights.

For example, we have seen allegations of AI entrenching bias and discrimination in the United States criminal justice system, as well as in policing in Australia.

Scandals and controversy connected to new technologies have increased public concern regarding decision-making that uses AI, data privacy, cyber security, political influence and labour market shifts.

Technology and human rights

Our challenge as a nation is to ensure these technologies deliver what Australians need and want, rather than what they fear. There is added urgency because other countries are investing heavily in these areas.

Globally, we are witnessing a fundamental shift. Leaders in the technology industry are increasingly abandoning a long-standing hostility to government intervention. Many are starting to call for new forms of governance and regulation.

Whitepaper

Protecting Australians while powering our future economy requires innovation that reinforces Australia's liberal democratic values, especially human rights, fairness and inclusion.

Making this vision real is a complex task. It will involve carefully crafted laws supported by an effective regulatory framework, strong incentives that apply to the public and private sectors, and policies that enable Australians to navigate an emerging AI-powered world.

This Whitepaper was a further contribution to the human rights and technology project.

You can read other associated materials below:

• Discussion Paper

• Issues Paper

• Technical Paper

• Final Report.