Press Release 05/03/2025
Press Release – February 28th, 2025
ISLAMABAD: On February 28, 2025, the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI), in collaboration with the Research Society of International Law (RSIL) and the International Law Association (ILA), Italy, hosted a webinar titled “AI Governance: A Human Rights Approach in Global Context.” The event focused on the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI), human rights, and global governance, featuring presentations from experts Roberto Ruoppo, Dr. Saadia Zahoor, and Raas Nabeel.
Roberto Ruoppo addressed AI’s potential and highlighted the challenges AI poses to human rights, particularly in areas like privacy and fairness. Ruoppo emphasized the importance of a human rights-based approach to AI regulation, referencing the European Union’s AI Act and the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention as key efforts in this direction. He recommended the need to establish a supranational AI governance framework to ensure consistency in AI regulations across borders. He also stressed the need for increased transparency in AI decision-making, particularly in critical sectors like law enforcement and healthcare.
Dr. Saadia Zahoor discussed the ethical concerns surrounding AI, focusing on how AI systems often exhibit biases against marginalized communities, such as Muslims and people of color. She pointed out the disproportionate impact of facial recognition and mass surveillance technologies on these groups, raising significant privacy and human rights issues. Zahoor advocated for stronger regulations to prevent AI misuse, particularly in authoritarian regimes. She also called for mechanisms to detect and mitigate bias in AI systems, recommending the implementation of robust frameworks to ensure fairness and accountability.
Raas Nabeel highlighted the disparities in AI development between the Global North and South. While AI innovation is concentrated in the Global North, many countries in the Global South lack the infrastructure and expertise needed to regulate AI effectively. Nabeel noted that many developing nations rely on general cybersecurity laws instead of AI-specific frameworks, leading to weak regulations. He stressed the need for tailored AI legislation in developing countries and called for greater international cooperation to address these gaps.
The webinar concluded with several key recommendations. The experts agreed on the necessity of promoting a supranational AI governance framework to standardize regulations across borders. They emphasized the importance of human oversight in AI systems, particularly in high-risk areas like law enforcement and justice. Transparency in AI decision-making was also a major point of discussion, with experts advocating for companies to be required to explain how their AI systems make decisions. Additionally, there was support for greater involvement of developing countries in global AI policymaking to ensure their concerns are addressed. Finally, the experts stressed the importance of international cooperation to build AI research capacity in the Global South.
The webinar underscored the need to balance AI innovation with human rights protections. By fostering global collaboration and inclusive policymaking, the experts called for a future where AI technologies are developed responsibly and equitably.
