Ombudspersons from 18 countries discussed AI and human rights

This week, ombudspersons and their advisers from 18 countries across Europe, Africa, and Asia gathered in Estonia for a two-day training seminar. The seminar aimed to share insights on AI’s technological, legal, and ethical aspects in administrative decisions and ombuds investigations. The event also focused on assessing whether the Ombudspersons are ready to handle AI-related cases.

With AI development advancing rapidly, it is crucial to ensure that AI respects human rights, the rule of law, and democracy when applied to decision-making.

Kertti Pilvik from the Estonian Chancellor of Justice’s Office emphasised the importance of ombudspersons actively engaging with AI as it becomes an increasingly relevant issue. “As mostly lawyers, we need to be more aware of the technical aspects of AI to perform our duties effectively. For instance, in Estonia, we’ve begun monitoring how AI algorithms are used to provide public services. Without understanding how AI functions, meaningful oversight could be challenging,” she said.

“This seminar linked technical and legal aspects together. It was an eye-opener regarding how we can use AI in our investigative work and begin addressing AI-related cases,” shared Kholeka Gcaleka, Public Protector of South Africa.

The Chancellor of Justice of Estonia and the e-Governance Academy organised the training seminar, with support from the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI).