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Amnesty International and Access Now - Toronto Declaration: Protecting the Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination in Machine Learning Systems

Nov 03, 2021

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Summary

The Toronto Declaration "focuses on the obligation to prevent machine learning systems from discriminating, and in some cases violating, existing human rights law. The declaration was announced as part of the RightsCon conference, an annual gathering of digital and human rights groups" (Brandom, 2018). The Declaration additionally calls on the right to redress human rights violations caused by analytics and AI. "This may include, for example, creating clear, independent, and visible processes for redress following adverse individual or societal effects," the declaration suggests, "[and making decisions] subject to accessible and effective appeal and judicial review" (Ibid).
The 58-paragraph document, in addition to taking a rights-based approach, also asserts that states and corporations have duties to protect those rights. "States have obligations to promote, protect and respect human rights; private sector actors, including companies, have a responsibility to respect human rights at all times. We put forward this Declaration to affirm these obligations and responsibilities." (Toronto Declaration:8)
Access Now, 'Human Rights in the Age of Artificial Intelligence' (2018) Amnesty International, Access Now, 'Toronto Declaration: Protecting the Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination in Machine Learning Systems' (2018)

Content

Force:yes