Ethical Impact Assessment: A Tool of the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence

As stated in article 50 of UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (UNESCO, 2021), the goal of this instrument is to “identify and assess benefits, concerns and risks of AI systems, as well as appropriate risk prevention, mitigation, redressal and monitoring measures, among other assurance mechanisms. Such assessments should identify the impacts on human rights and fundamental freedoms, in particular but not limited to the rights of people in vulnerable and precarious situations, labour rights, the environment and ecosystems and ethical and social implications, and facilitate citizen participation in line with the values and principles set forth in this Recommendation”. This instrument is primarily designed to help government officials (individuals and teams) involved in the procurement of AI systems. The goal of the methodology is to equip procurement officers with the set of questions to ask in order to ensure that the AI systems they are purchasing are aligned with the ethical standards set out in the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.