Human Dignity Takes Center Stage at 2024 Euregio Summer School

Human dignity has never been more relevant in our lives than now. Albana Hana, GC South East Europe Alumna, recounts the 2024 Euregio Summer School on “Artificial Intelligence, Technology, and Human Rights” held in May 2024, in Dobbiaco/Toblach, and organized by the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano. The theme was "Artificial Intelligence, Technology, and Human Rights," with human dignity as the central focus.

 

Human dignity, a complex and often debated concept, is increasingly significant due to rapid technological advancements and the proliferation of digital personal data. Prof. Robert Simon from the Free University of Bolzano, the Summer School's coordinator, opened the event with a lecture on Schiller’s ‘On Grace and Dignity,’ emphasising the importance of mental freedom in moral decision-making, i.e. between good and evil or good and bad deeds (the main dichotomy on which basis the entire Western system of human rights is built and operates). Discussions also explored cultural relativity, Eastern philosophies, and the impact of social media on our image and reputation.

 

Prof. Maurizio Borghi from the University of Turin addressed the implications of Artificial Intelligence on fundamental human rights such as privacy and data protection, as stipulated in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the EU-GDPR. He drew parallels between traditional human rights practices leading to traditional dilemmas (e.g. the trolley problem) and contemporary practices shaped by machine errors and machine consciousness.

 

Artificial Intelligence, initially a marketing term from big tech companies, now plays a crucial role in economic value creation, as discussed in Zuboff's work on surveillance capitalism. However, AI also poses significant risks, including mass surveillance and manipulation, which threaten democracy and decision-making processes.

 

Prof. Guglielmo Tamburrini from the University of Naples Federico II, focused on the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act and the seven principles for trustworthy AI. He highlighted AI's role in the climate crisis and the military, emphasising the need for societal and environmental well-being.

 

The School included participants from various disciplines, including philosophy, law, economics, political studies, and IT. Despite recognising AI's positive aspects, such as uncovering subtle behavioural patterns, participants expressed concerns about its negative impacts and the ethical challenges it presents. AI is here to stay, creating new realities and challenges. During the working groups, the principle of accountability was emphasised as essential for any ethical AI approach. Defining parties in transactions is crucial for effective justice accessibility.

 

The Euregio Summer School 2024 was organised in cooperation with the Global Campus of Human Rights, represented by Prof. Christina Binder, Universität der Bundeswehr München (member of GC Europe); and alumnae Dr. Albana Hana (GC South East Europe Alumni 2003-2004) and Elise Kolen (GC Europe 2023-2024).

 

By Albana Hana, Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Network