CAHAI: Council of Europe Ad-Hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence
What does CAHAI stand for? Officially, this is the abbreviation of the Council of Europe (CoE) Ad-Hoc Committee on Artificial Intelligence, an inter-governmental body that is preparing a feasibility study on a regulatory framework on AI based on the CoE’s human rights standards. But for most human rights activists and CSOs this all sounds a bit vague. They actually start to feel a bit out of place when the topic of AI regulation comes up and many believe this is something that tech specialists should talk about.
We at ECNL believe exactly the opposite. Any discussion of regulation of AI should include CSOs and human rights advocates because they are the ones that best understand how AI can affect human rights. They can bring in valuable expertise and examples about the impact of AI-based systems on different groups of citizens, including vulnerable groups.
That is why we take active part in the discussions at CAHAI as a member of CAHAI on behalf of the CoE Conference of INGOs and try to engage other CSOs in the process.
C.A.H.A.I.: Committed Activists Help AI regulation
Together with the Legal Resources Centre from Moldova (LRCM), ECNL co-organized on March 23-24 a workshop on digital technologies and policies that impact civic space. Our objective was to prepare CSOs (and specifically those that work on human rights issues) to engage in the discussions around AI regulation in the Republic of Moldova so that they can ensure that AI policies include safeguards for fundamental rights and freedoms. But the first task was to de-mystify what is AI and how it may impact human rights.
Together with LRCM we managed to convene a core group of key CSOs that understand the importance of engaging in the AI, even without having a tech background. As one participant stated
“before the event, I had no idea what is AI. Now I have a list of tasks to do and people to talk to”.
Participants left the workshop with a list of the most important steps to be taken to ensure AI policies in Moldova are developed based on human rights norms and standards, including:
- organizing a core group of CSOs and educating them on the importance of their engagement in the future debates around AI in Moldova, and
- reaching out to the private sector and the government to engage in a dialogue and ensuring policy documents highlight the importance of inclusive dialogue when developing AI policies, which should also be in line with international human rights standards.
Our partners LRCM expressed their readiness to engage further in coordinating this process in Moldova, and we at ECNL will keep supporting this process.