Nighat Dad joins UN Secretary General’s advisory board on AI

Digital Rights Foundation’s (DRF) executive director Nighat Dad has joined the United Nations Secretary General's high-level advisory board on Artificial Intelligence (AI) along with distinguished individuals from across the globe, it emerged on Friday.

As per a press release, the board will address the overarching theme of addressing global governance of AI.

The advisory body's interim recommendations by the end of the year will focus on three main areas - the international governance of AI, generative AI and shared understanding of risks and challenges associated with deployment of these technologies.

The body will also be addressing key opportunities and enablers for leveraging AI to accelerate the delivery of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

The Pakistani lawyer said she felt honoured to serve on the high-level advisory board and was "excited to bring a global majority world perspective to our discussions and emphasize the importance of recognizing the potential human rights issues that may affect marginalised communities worldwide as we embrace new technologies".

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She stated that her goal is to "address real-time threats and vulnerabilities faced by these [marginalised) communities and shed light on emerging problems through an intersectional lens while considering global AI governance".

The press release further stated that the board will also bolster the need for member states to "act deliberately and quickly on existing and upcoming governance structures on AI being adopted by states".

The board will develop AI governance mechanisms for member states and over the years assist and facilitate in implementation of these governance mechanisms from a human rights and digital rights perspective.

They believe that while a global majority of member states are still in the process of deploying AI-facilitated technologies, there needs to be education and awareness of the implications these technologies would pose.

DRF is a registered research-based NGO in Pakistan. Founded in 2012, it focuses on ICTs to support human rights, inclusiveness, democratic processes, and digital governance. Its mandate includes issues of online free speech, privacy, data protection and online violence against women.