A new report from the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has made a call for far-reaching changes on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) front to ensure Governments, companies and others safeguard human rights in the design, development and use of new technologies like AI.
Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow said the report, Human Rights and Technology, made 38 recommendations to ensure human rights were upheld in laws, policies, funding and education on AI.
“New technology should give us what we want and need, not what we fear,” Commissioner Santow said.
“Over the course of our Human Rights and Technology project, Australians have consistently told us that new technology needs to be fair and accountable,” he said.
“That’s why we are recommending a moratorium on some high-risk uses of facial recognition technology, and on the use of ‘black box’ or opaque AI in decision making by corporations and by Government.”
Commissioner Santow said the AHRC also recommended stronger community protections against harmful uses of AI, especially when used in high-risk areas, and the creation of a new AI Safety Commissioner to help lead Australia’s transition to an AI-powered world.
“We’re also recommending measures to ensure that no-one is left behind as Australia continues its digital transformation—especially people with disability,” the Human Rights Commissioner said.
“We need to ensure that new technology facilitates the inclusive society Australians want to live in, and that innovation is consistent with our values.”
He said the Report recommended ways to apply existing laws that protected people from unfair treatment more effectively and targeted reform to bring those laws into the 21st century.
Commissioner Santow said the best way to rebuild public trust in the use of AI by Government and corporations was by ensuring transparency, accountability and independent oversight.
“A new AI Safety Commissioner could play a valuable role in this process,” he said.
The AHRC’s 234-page Report can be downloaded at this PS News link.
