International Data-Based Systems Agency IDA at the UN
Imagine: Humans and the planet flourish sustainably, and human rights are respected not only offline but also online and in the domain of “Artificial intelligence (AI)” (which can more appropriately be called “data-based systems (DS)”) …
We can achieve this by sustainable and human rights-based data-based systems (HRBDS) and by establishing an International Data-Based Systems Agency (IDA) at the UN following the model of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
These two concrete proposals for action – sustainable and human rights-based data-based systems (HRBDS) and the creation of an International Data-Based Systems Agency (IDA) at the UN – are based on a six-year research-project by Peter G. Kirchschlaeger started at Yale University and finalized at the University of Lucerne published in the book “Digital Transformation and Ethics: Ethical Considerations on the Robotization and Automation of Society and the Economy and the Use of Artificial Intelligence” (Nomos: Baden-Baden 2021, 537 pages).
Yale University: Keynote on “Striving for a Sustainable and Human Rights-Based Future – An International Data-Based Systems Agency IDA” by Professor Dr Peter G. Kirchschlaeger (Ethics-Professor and Director of the Institute of Social Ethics ISE at the University of Lucerne / Visiting Professor at the ETH Zurich)
Why
Humanity and the Planet Are In Imminent Danger
In the year 2025 it is still possible, e.g., to put on the market an app that sexualizes children’s images and the only thing that happens to this company is that it makes a lot of money from it. We need to do something about this! In the year 2025 it is now possible with “social media” to destabilize within a few hours a peaceful, functioning, and wealthy country (e.g., the UK far-right riots 2024). In the year 2025 it is now possible with “Generative AI” to destroy a politician with a “Hollywood-quality” deep fake. Urgent action is needed.
How
All Humans and the Planet Should Flourish with DS
The UN General Assembly has recently adopted the resolution “Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development” aiming for ‘safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems.’ It is now urgent to implement and build on the UN General Assembly resolution by promoting sustainable and human rights-based data-based systems (HRBDS) and by establishing urgently an International Data-Based Systems Agency (IDA) at the UN.
What
Sustainable and Human Rights-Based Data-Based Systems (HRBDS)
Sustainable and human rights-based data-based systems (HRBDS) are meant to ensure that human rights serve as the basis of DS. In other words, HRBDS seek to ensure that human rights are respected, protected, implemented, and realized within the entire life cycle of DS and the complete value-chain process of DS (in the design, the development, the production, the distribution, the use, or the non-use of DS because of human rights-concerns). HRBDS strives for protecting the powerless from the powerful.
International Data-Based Systems Agency (IDA) at the UN
An International Data-Based Systems Agency (IDA) urgently needs to be established at the UN as a global platform for technical cooperation in the field of DS, fostering human rights, safety, security, and peaceful uses of DS promoting HRBDS, as well as a global supervisory and monitoring institution and regulatory authority in the area of DS responsible for access to market approval.
Given the areas of convergence between DS and nuclear technologies, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) model would seem the most appropriate one for responsible global AI governance as it represents an UN-agency with “teeth”. The establishment of an IDA is feasible because humanity has already shown that we are able to avoid “blindly” pursuing and implementing things that are technical possible, but that we are also able to exercise caution when the welfare of humanity and the planet are at stake.
For example, humans researched the field of nuclear technology but then humans substantially and massively limited research and development in the field of nuclear technology, in order to prevent even worse consequences. This suppression was successful mainly due to an international regime, concrete enforcement mechanisms, and thanks to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at the UN.
Who
Sustainable and human rights-based data-based systems (HRBDS) and the International Data-Based Systems Agency (IDA) are results of multi-year-long research-project (started at Yale University and finalized at the University of Lucerne) led by Professor Dr. Peter G. Kirchschlaeger (Ethics-Professor and Director of the Institute of Social Ethics ISE at the University of Lucerne and Visiting Professor at the ETH Zurich).
There is a growing international and interdisciplinary network of experts calling for the establish-ment of HRBDS and IDA.
The Elders, an independent group of world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela that includes former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (former President of Liberia and Africa’s first elected female head of state as well as Nobel Peace Laureate), and Ireland’s first female President Mary Robinson, endorsed the concrete recommendations for human rights-based DS and a global agency drawing on the model of the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor them and called upon the UN to take appropriate action.5
The idea of a human rights-based and legally binding regulatory framework as well as the establishment of an institution enforcing the global regulation enjoys the support of Pope Francis.6
UN Secretary General António Guterres also supports the creation of an international AI watchdog body like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): “I would be favorable to the idea that we could have an artificial intelligence agency (…) inspired by what the international agency of atomic energy is today.”7 He has called for a new UN body like an “International Data-Based Systems Agency IDA” to tackle threats posed by artificial intelligence in the UN Security Council on July 18, 2023.8
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has demanded at the UN Human Rights Council “urgent action” and proposed human–rights-based HRBDS and a coordinated global response towards an institutional solution like the creation of an “International Data–Based Systems Agency IDA” in his statement about AI and human rights on July 12, 2023.9
The UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopted, on July 14, 2023, its latest resolution on “New and emerging digital technologies and human rights”10 which included for the first time an explicit reference to AI, and the promotion and protection of human rights. The Resolution emphasizes that new and emerging technologies with an impact on human rights “may lack adequate regulation”, highlighted the “need for effective measures to prevent, mitigate and remedy adverse human rights impacts of such technologies” and stressed the need to respect, protect and promote human rights “throughout the lifecycle of artificial intelligence systems”. It called for frameworks for impact assessments related to human rights, for due diligence to assess, prevent and mitigate adverse human rights impact, and to ensure effective remedies, human oversight, and accountability.
On March 21, 2024, the UN General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution “Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development”11 on the promotion of “safe, secure and trustworthy” “artificial intelligence (AI)” systems that will also benefit sustainable development for all. It emphasizes: “The same rights that people have offline must also be protected online, including throughout the life cycle of artificial intelligence systems.”
Also, some voices from multinational technology-companies – among others, Sam Altman (Founder of OpenAI) at the World Economic Forum WEF 2024 – have called for IDA.12