Abstract Various forms of AI technology, most notably in surveillance applications, are crucial in the transformation of societies across the globe, creating significant and complex challenges for human rights. State and non-state actors utilise AI-enhanced surveillance technologies, in the form of facial recognition software and predictive analytics, to monitor individuals with little or no legal protections. This system violates different rights like right to privacy, freedom of expression and other rights. The paper critically addresses the crossroads of the AI-based surveillance and the international human rights law and discusses why a cohesive global system, based on the notion of cross-border solidarity should be established. Civil society and international mechanisms are advocating an integrated international system of governance of AI. As an example, the 2021 Recommendation on the Ethics of AI by (UNESCO) adopted by 193 countries expressly forbids mass surveillance via AI and points to data protection and individual rights. Equally, the new Framework Convention of the Council of Europe provides a binding set of regulations to guarantee that AI systems comply with human rights and democracy and the rule of law. By using the comparative case studies of the facial-recognition infrastructure in China or predictive policing in the United States and data privacy regimes in the European Union, the paper finds the most significant areas in which AI surveillance violates privacy, freedom of expression, equality and autonomy. The research claims that it is only a consistent, universal human rights system constructed on international solidarities that can be sufficient to ensure human security in the era of AI surveillance. There is an urgent need of such a mechanism that serves humanity and protect its fundamental freedom. Different proposals and recommendations have been given for the development of Global Human Rights Framework.
Ariba Dar (Wed,) studied this question.