The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Work of Human Rights Defenders

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most important technologies of the present day. It is already influencing the day-to-day life of many people and is shaping the decision-making of enterprises, governments, humanitarian organisations and other actors. This article discusses the potentials of the use of AI by and against human rights defenders. On the one hand, AI can offer immense benefits for such individuals or groups with its timesaving, simplifying and analytical capabilities. On the other hand, AI can be used to track and attack human rights defenders and their activities. It offers an additional way, especially for governments, to curtail the rights of human rights defenders and to hinder them in their work.