Title: The Challenges of Human Rights in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
Authors & Designations:
- Nehaluddin Ahmad, PhD – Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University, Brunei
- Aqilah Walin Ali, PhD – University of Malaya, Malaysia
- Mohammad Hilmy Baihaqy bin Yussof, PhD – Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University, Brunei
Source: UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 16(1), 150–169 (January 2025)
DOI: 10.32890/uumjls2025.16.1.9 (researchgate.net)
APA Citation: Ahmad, N., Ali, A. W., & Yussof, M. H. B. (2025). The challenges of human rights in the era of artificial intelligence. UUM Journal of Legal Studies, 16(1), 150–169. https://doi.org/10.32890/uumjls2025.16.1.9
Background & Objective
The article explores how Artificial Intelligence (AI) challenges the foundations of human rights as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). It highlights AI’s transformative effects on societal operations and interactions, raising critical legal and ethical questions. The authors assess the need for comprehensive reforms in legal frameworks and global regulation to safeguard rights in an increasingly AI-driven world (researchgate.net).
Methodology
Using comparative, formal, and descriptive legal methods, the paper examines AI’s impact across economic, social, and political domains. It compares regional and international legal responses—such as the proposed AI Convention—to evaluate their effectiveness in addressing AI-induced rights violations (researchgate.net).
Key Findings
- Erosion of rights: AI systems risk undermining rights like privacy, non-discrimination, autonomy, and due process.
- Regulatory gaps: Existing frameworks (e.g., UDHR) are inadequate to manage AI’s complexity.
- Global collaboration: A binding international instrument, such as an AI Convention, is urgently needed to align laws and ethical standards (ennhri.org, researchgate.net).
Original Abstract
In an era in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) has brought about tremendous technical advancements that can significantly impact operations and interactions in society, it is crucial to seriously think about the issue of human rights in relation to the applications of AI. The increasingly widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) presents significant obstacles to the protection of human rights, since it questions the core concept of human supremacy over other living organisms. Given the growing incorporation of AI technology in our daily lives, it is crucial to comprehensively assess the influence of AI on human rights. This article examines the crucial significance of human rights in the era of AI, investigating the potential outcomes of AI’s impact on these rights and the worldwide efforts aimed at safeguarding them. It examines the transformative impact of AI, ethical considerations, and potential disruptions across economic, social, and political spheres. This article discusses how AI challenges traditional human rights frameworks like the UDHR, and will emphasise the urgent need for updated legal and ethical frameworks, as well as global collaboration aimed at protecting human rights in this era of AI. Furthermore, it considers the potential of the first internationally binding convention on AI, the AI Convention. Using comparative legal, formal legal and descriptive methods, the analysis shows that AI may undermine the exercise of several human rights. The focus is on integrating legal and ethical factors to ensure the responsible implementation of AI technology and in ensuring that AI technology benefits all of humanity.
This article presents a clear and timely examination of AI’s threats to core human rights. Its strength lies in the multi-method approach—balancing doctrinal clarity with comparative insights—while focusing on pertinent domains like privacy and non-discrimination. The call for a global AI convention is compelling, though the piece would benefit from more detailed case studies (e.g., AI-based surveillance or biometric profiling) to illustrate real-world harms. Application recommendations—such as transparency mandates, algorithmic governance, and data protection—could also be expanded.
Nevertheless, the authors effectively argue that incremental regulation (like the EU AI Act) is insufficient. Instead, transformative legal strategies are essential. Future research should assess the political feasibility of such an AI Convention and explore national implementations in nations like Malaysia and Brunei.