AI in supply chains: freedom from slavery revisited

This paper addresses the link between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the human and fundamental right to freedom from slavery: in particular, we focus on the modern slavery in global supply chains and the possibility to use AI to identify it. We analyze the slavery and its modern version, situate the AI within the human rights debate and argue that we should not only focus on how AI can violate and infringe the human rights, but also explore how AI could be useful in identifying violations and helping to combat them. We emphasize the need for inclusive datasets and stakeholder oversight and argue in support of AI to enhance transparency of international supply chains while cautioning against biases. We conclude by outlining the importance of responsible AI deployment and making a case for more regulatory efforts to protect the fundamental human right to freedom from slavery in supply chain operations. Received: 27 May 2024Accepted: 12 September 2024