ACCAN has made a submission in response to the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Human Rights and Technology Discussion Paper. This follows our 2018 submission in response to the Human Rights and Technology Issues Paper.

The Discussion Paper considers possible responses to the human rights challenges and opportunities brought about by new and emerging technologies. It consolidates the responses to previous rounds of consultation, and outlines the Australian Human Rights Commission’s thinking on a range of issues. In the Discussion Paper, the Australian Human Rights Commission offers a range of proposals designed to address the impact that new and emerging technologies have on human rights. This includes discussion of the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-informed decision making, and of accessible technologies.

ACCAN agreed with many of the proposals made by the Australian Human Rights Commission. We recommended that human rights be embedded into the development and use of all new and emerging technology, in addition to the development of government and industry policies, monitoring and regulation. We also recommended that the Australian Human Rights Commission’s proposals be progressed in close consultation with those who use and may be disproportionately impacted by new and emerging technologies, including people with disability, older people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people on low incomes and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. ACCAN further recommended that all information about AI, AI-informed decision making and new and emerging technology be made available in a range of accessible formats, such as Easy English, Auslan, braille and large print.

Download: ACCAN submission Human Rights and Tech Discussion Paper818.68 KB
Download: ACCAN submission Human Rights and Tech Discussion Paper311.83 KB