Rapid development of emerging technologies poses significant human rights challenges, but with a collaborative effort, it is possible to establish frameworks that safeguard human rights
The relationship between technology and human rights is increasingly significant as emerging technologies rapidly transform societies. Some emerging technologies pose human rights challenges by potentially infringing on privacy, amplifying surveillance, exacerbating inequality, and creating biases in automated decision-making processes. On the other hand, these technologies also hold the potential to enhance human rights by improving access to information, healthcare, and education.
As technology evolves, it is crucial to address human rights concerns to ensure that such advancements benefit all individuals equitably and ethically. For example, one area of emerging issues is digital forced labor, which refers to the coerced exploitation of individuals through online platforms or digital technologies and commonly occurs in social media content moderation, microtask crowdsourcing, online gaming, and data labeling for artificial intelligence systems.
Addressing these concerns requires a collaborative effort among governments, tech companies, civil society, and international organizations to establish frameworks that safeguard rights while fostering innovation, ensuring that the digital future is inclusive and respects human dignity.
Specific technologies present unique concerns
The swift pace of technological progress presents both substantial obstacles and advantages at the crossroads of human rights, including areas around:
Artificial intelligence — The crossroads of AI development and human rights preservation presents complex challenges. Biases in AI algorithms, often stemming from biased training data, can perpetuate and even amplify existing discrimination. Simultaneously, the vast amounts of data required for AI raise significant privacy concerns.
When AI systems make impactful decisions, especially in areas like law enforcement or healthcare, accountability becomes crucial into ensure fairness and avoid potentially harmful outcomes. Finally, AI’s potential to automate tasks raises concerns about job displacement and its impact on employment and economic rights, demanding proactive measures to enable a just transition for affected workers.
Quantum computing — While this technology does not inherently present specific human rights issues, its development and application — like that of any powerful technology — could have implications for such rights depending on how it is used. Quantum computing could potentially break current encryption standards, which would have significant implications for data privacy and security. Further, unequal access to quantum computing technology might exacerbate economic and social inequality because only certain countries or corporations with the resources to develop and utilize it might benefit. Likewise, ethical use and job displacement are concerns.
Internet of things — The so-called Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed the way we live, work, and interact with each other, but it also raises significant human rights concerns. One of the most pressing issues is the erosion of privacy, as IoT devices collect and share vast amounts of personal data, often without users’ knowledge or consent. This has led to surveillance concerns as governments and corporations can potentially access and exploit this data for their own purposes.
Additionally, the IoT has the potential to exacerbate existing social inequalities, particularly in terms of accessibility and the digital divide. Many individuals, especially those in marginalized communities, may not have access to IoT devices or the skills to use them effectively, which could further entrench existing power imbalances. Moreover, the IoT can also perpetuate discrimination, as biased algorithms and data can lead to discriminatory outcomes.
Biotechnology — Examining how biotechnology impacts the landscape of human rights, particularly in genetic engineering, presents complex ethical and legal dilemmas. Genetic privacy is paramount; and individuals deserve control over their genetic information and protection from discrimination based on their genetic predispositions.
The potential for gene editing raises ethical concerns about unintended consequences and how this could exacerbate existing social inequalities. In addition, access to healthcare is also a key consideration, as genetic therapies, some potentially life-changing, should be available to all.
Safeguarding human rights in the digital age
Ethical frameworks for technology development are essential to guarantee that innovative solutions are designed and deployed in a responsible and socially accountable manner. An ethical framework for technology development refers to a set of principles, guidelines, and standards that guide the development and deployment of technology to prevent harm, promote fairness, and respect human rights. These frameworks are necessary to mitigate the risks of unintended consequences, biases, and negative impacts on individuals and society as a whole.
For organizations, the design and implementation of an effective ethical framework include key actions, such as:
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- identifying potential risks and harms associated with the technology; (One way to do this by conducting an human rights impact assessment [HRIA], which identifies and assesses potential positive and negative human rights impacts throughout a technology’s lifecycle. This method needs to be integrated into ethical frameworks. In addition, requiring human rights principles within ethical codes of conduct and establishing feedback loops for continuous improvement can help ensure ethical guidelines based on HRIA findings.)
- establishing clear values and principles that align with human rights and social norms;
- involving diverse stakeholders, including end-users, experts, and marginalized communities, in the development process;
- integrating ethical considerations into every stage of the technology development lifecycle, from design to deployment;
- establishing accountability mechanisms to ensure compliance and address ethical breaches; and
- fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, and continuous learning and improvement.
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At the same time, collaboration that transcends organizational boundaries on the an international scale through cooperation and regulation are vital. This means that collaborative efforts among nations must establish comprehensive frameworks that protect human rights, foster innovation, and ensure equitable access to technological benefits while addressing challenges like digital forced labor, privacy concerns, and algorithmic biases through shared standards and enforcement mechanisms.
In addition, broad education and public awareness is another area of collaboration across communities — and one that is essential to equip people with knowledge about their digital rights and encourage them to champion the responsible creation of new technologies. Impactful learning programs and community outreach efforts should focus on promoting digital literacy, online safety, and critical thinking skills.
As the complexities of technology and human rights are navigated, it is crucial that stakeholders pursue multilateral and multilevel approaches to better ensure that technological advancements benefit all individuals equitably and ethically. Organizations and multilateral collaboration will need to play catch up because technology will only continue to compel change at an accelerated pace.
You can find more on the Thomson Reuters Institute’s Human Rights Crimes Resource Center here.