AI can be misused, climate change a new threat to rights: President Murmu – ET CISO
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President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday said artificial intelligence has entered people’s day-to-day life, solving many problems as well as creating new ones.
Cautioning against misuse of AI, she said, “The human rights discourse so far has been centred on the human agency, that is, the violator is assumed to be a human being. With AI, however, the culprit could be a non-human, but intelligent agent.” The president asked all stakeholders to ponder over the issue.
Murmu was speaking at an event organised by the National Human Rights Commission to mark Human Rights Day. “As we progress into the future, we are confronted with emerging challenges. Cybercrimes and climate change are new threats to human rights. The digital era, while transformative, has brought with it complex issues such as cyberbullying, deepfake, privacy concerns, and the spread of misinformation,” she said. “These challenges underscore the importance of fostering a safe, secure, and equitable digital environment that protects the rights and dignity of every individual.”
The president said climate change forces us to review the human rights thinking at the global level. “Polluters of a different place and a different era are affecting the lives of people in another place and another period. India, as the voice of Global South, has rightly taken up the leadership in climate action,” Murmu said.
She also urged business leaders to ensure that the growing ‘gig economy’ does not adversely affect the mental health of gig workers. “As we embrace new economic models, we must ensure that the well-being of all individuals, especially those in vulnerable sectors, remains a priority,” the president said.