Human rights in the age of

Right to take part in cultural life and enjoy benefits of scientific progress
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“
The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone: (a) To take part in cultural life; 
(b) To enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications; (c) To benefit from the protection of the 
moral and material interests resulting from any scientific, literary or artistic production of which he is the 
author.” - Article 15 of the ICESCR
The use of AI technologies that allow governments to identify and repress cultural groups could stop people 
from taking part in cultural life, either directly or indirectly (for example through surveillance that inspires 
fear of being identified or suffering reprisals for cultural identity, leading people to avoid cultural expressions 
altogether). There is a risk that AI could be used to “criminalize” certain cultures. When members of a 
particular culture are disproportionately arrested or otherwise targeted by law enforcement, the behaviors 
and customs associated with these cultures could become linked with criminal activities. For example, a ML 
system analyzing video or photographic footage could learn to associate certain types of dress, manners of 
speaking, or gestures with criminal activity, and could be used to justify the targeting of these groups under 
the guise of preventing crime.
104 Article 25 of the UDHR. Article 13 and 14 of the ICESCR
105 O’Neil, Weapons of Math Destruction, 50-67.
106 Article 27 of the UDHR, Article 15 of the ICESCR

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HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Many in the developing world worry that they will be “left behind” in the global AI race and the corresponding 
transformational economic change. But those in developing countries stand to become passive consumers of AI 
systems developed in China or the West for different people, cultures, and situations. Foreign-developed AI runs 
the risk of deepening the existing inequality and social division in places where internet access and technology 
are largely restricted to the wealthy and urban. This risk of deeper inequality is compounded by the risk that job 
automation will lead to job loss by displacing the manufacturing industry’s role in economic development.