Commissioner for the Protection of Equality, Brankica Janković, participated in the international conference on artificial intelligence (AI) and human rights in Amsterdam. The conference, organized by Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović and her team, was an opportunity for representatives of European institutions to exchange experiences and opinions, in an open conversation, about the most important challenges related to human rights, as well as ways to improve protection against discrimination in this area.

No institution alone can monitor and respond to all the challenges posed by the application of artificial intelligence, and national bodies for the protection of human rights and promotion of equality play an important role in that process. The AI systems are becoming more and more complex, and it is thus necessary to ensure a high level of human rights protection during their implementation, the conference participants pointed out.

Commissioner Janković said that the key lies in cooperation, a coordinated and common approach, education, and recognition of the risk of discrimination, as well as intensive monitoring of technological development and timely reaction in the regulatory field. She pointed out that Serbia adopted the Artificial Intelligence Development Strategy for the period 2020-2025. Janković stated that from the beginning, the institution of the Commissioner monitors the situation and analyzes the risks of discriminatory outcomes that artificial intelligence systems can cause, primarily in the areas of work and employment, service provision, and procedures before public authorities, but also realizes the positive sides of the application of modern technological achievements and artificial intelligence in improving the position of certain marginalized groups.

The conference in Amsterdam is a continuation of the activities that began with the adoption of the recommendations of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe entitled “Unboxing artificial intelligence – 10 steps to protect human rights”, which was also presented in Serbia, organized by the Commissioner.