The non-binding resolution, proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by China and 122 other countries, was adopted by consensus without a vote. The resolution, which took three months to negotiate, supports strengthening privacy policies, Reuters reported today, March 22. This is the first time the General Assembly has adopted a resolution on this issue.
“Today, all 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly have spoken out and chosen to govern artificial intelligence rather than let it govern us,” said US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield.
“The improper or malicious design, development, deployment and use of artificial intelligence systems pose risks that may undermine the protection, promotion and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms,” the resolution said.
Artificial intelligence is a hot topic at international forums.
The General Assembly calls on all Member States and relevant stakeholders to refrain from or cease the use of AI systems that are inconsistent with international human rights law or pose undue risks to human rights practices. The General Assembly also calls on the private sector, research institutions and the media to develop and support approaches to regulate and govern the use of AI in a safe, secure and trustworthy manner, according to official information on the UN website.
The resolution calls on UN member states and stakeholders to work together to support developing countries so that they can enjoy inclusive and equitable access, narrow the digital divide and improve digital literacy.
This is the latest in a series of initiatives by governments around the world to shape the development of AI in the current context. Specifically, concerns that AI can be used to disrupt democratic processes, increase the risk of fraud or lead to serious job losses, among other harms. However, only a few of these initiatives have been effective, according to Reuters.
A session of the United Nations General Assembly
In November 2023, the US, UK and more than a dozen other countries announced the first detailed international agreement on how to secure AI from rogue actors, urging companies to create AI systems that are “safe by design”.
Europe is getting ahead of the US, with EU lawmakers approving a provisional agreement in March to oversee AI technology.
The Biden administration has also urged lawmakers to move toward AI regulation, but progress is unlikely in a polarized Congress, where Republicans and Democrats hold majorities in each chamber.
Meanwhile, the White House is looking to reduce AI risks for consumers, workers, and minorities while strengthening national security with a new executive order in October 2023.
Asked whether negotiators had encountered resistance from Russia or China, US officials acknowledged that there had been “a lot of heated conversations… but we have been very proactive in negotiating with China, Russia and other countries that often do not see eye to eye with us on issues.”
“We believe this resolution strikes the right balance between promoting further development while continuing to protect human rights,” said an unnamed US official.
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