The Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Dr. Tony Ojukwu OFR SAN has urged stakeholders to prioritize ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI) governance, warning that unregulated AI development can exacerbate inequalities, invade privacy, and infringe on human rights.
The Executive Secretary who handed down this warning during a stakeholders' conference on Human Rights Dimensions of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Governance and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights: Challenges and Opportunities in Africa, emphasized the need for robust ethical frameworks to safeguard fundamental freedoms and prevent potential abuses. He highlighted the risks associated with AI, including algorithmic bias, job displacement, and cybersecurity threats.
The convener of the conference who is also the President of the International Network for Corporate Social Responsibility (IN-CSR), Mr. Eustace Onuegbu emphasized the need to address the unique challenges of AI in developing nations, particularly as it relates to business and cultural dimensions, taking into consideration the respect for human rights.
Prof. Damilola Olawuyi, a member of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights, stressed the need for a legally binding framework to ensure users have access to justice when their rights are violated or threatened. Other stakeholders, including representatives from NITDA, NCC, Paradigm Initiative, and CITAD, acknowledged AI's transformative potential while emphasizing its risks.
