Navigating AI Ethics and Legal Considerations: Safeguarding Human Rights and Preventing Discrimination

In this talk, Massimo Buonomo will explore the ethical and legal challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic systems, focusing on how they might infringe on fundamental human rights. From concerns around privacy and data confidentiality to the freedom of choice and expression, AI technologies have the potential to deeply impact individual rights if left unchecked.

A central theme will be the risk of AI systems perpetuating social and cultural stereotypes, particularly in relation to gender discrimination. As AI algorithms are often trained on biased datasets, there is a critical need to ensure that these systems do not replicate or amplify harmful biases. The discussion will examine strategies to mitigate these risks and promote fairness in AI applications.

Additionally, the speech will cover the evolving legal frameworks in both the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) that are attempting to address these ethical concerns. With a particular focus on EU regulations around prohibited AI practices and the use of emotion recognition technologies, Massimo will highlight how different regions are approaching the balance between innovation and the protection of human rights.

This speech aims to provide insights into the intersection of AI technology, human rights, and law, offering perspectives on how to responsibly develop and regulate AI in a way that promotes social equity and prevents discrimination.

AI Governance and Legislative Safeguards: EU and US Approaches to Unacceptable AI Systems

In this roundtable discussion, Massimo Buonomo will focus on the critical topic of AI governance, focusing on the legal frameworks emerging in the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) to regulate and control the use of potentially harmful AI systems. The conversation will center on AI systems that have been deemed unacceptable and banned within the EU due to their potential to infringe on fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Key topics will include:

1. Facial Recognition and Privacy: A discussion on the untargeted scraping of facial images from the internet or CCTV footage. Facial recognition technology, used to identify or verify individuals based on their facial features, poses significant risks when deployed without consent. This talk will outline how such practices are being regulated, with a focus on the EU's restrictive stance on these technologies.
2. Emotion Recognition in Sensitive Settings: The use of AI to detect and analyze human emotions, particularly in the workplace or educational institutions, raises profound ethical concerns. Massimo will examine the EU’s legislative response to such systems, which are viewed as a threat to individual privacy and autonomy.
3. Social Scoring and Biometric Categorization: Massimo will explore the growing use of social scoring systems, which attempt to assign a societal value to individuals based on their behavior, and the use of biometric categorization to infer sensitive personal data such as sexual orientation, religious beliefs, or ethnicity. These practices, particularly in the EU, are seen as crossing ethical boundaries, leading to outright bans or strict regulations.
4. Predictive Policing: The speech will also cover the use of AI for predictive policing, which involves analyzing data to predict potential criminal behavior. While this technology has promise, it also carries risks of unfair profiling and bias, which is why some instances of predictive policing are heavily scrutinized or banned in the EU.
5. The Technical Side of Facial Recognition: In addition to the ethical and legal considerations, Massimo will provide an overview of the technical aspects of facial recognition. This process involves detecting and locating human faces in images and videos before analyzing facial details for identification or verification. He will discuss how the underlying technology works and the potential societal impacts if not properly regulated. By comparing the different approaches taken by the EU and the US, this speech will offer insights into how governments can strike a balance between innovation and the protection of fundamental human rights in the era of AI. It will highlight the importance of strong governance frameworks in preventing misuse while encouraging responsible development.

Navigating the Intersection of Human Rights and Artificial Intelligence: Ethical and Legal Considerations for Emotion Recognition Systems and Prohibited Practices in the EU

In this session, Massimo explores the crucial ethical and legal dimensions of AI, focusing specifically on emotion recognition systems. We will delve into the regulatory framework of the European Union, examining prohibited practices and the impact on human rights. This presentation aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and considerations in ensuring that AI developments respect and promote human dignity and rights. Massimo looks forward to engaging with fellow experts and enthusiasts on this vital topic. Your participation and insights will be highly valued.