Event information

17 March 2018, 17:30-20:00

Downloads

Flyer >

Artificial Intelligence: Opportunity or Threat for Human Rights?

Event

Surveillance images Surveillance images

FIFDH Logo ENG

The International film festival and forum on human rights (FIFDH) and the Geneva Academy co-organize this debate on artificial intelligence (AI).

AI is already ubiquitous, in our smartphones, our applications, and our search engines. Robots, algorithms and big data have invaded our dinner conversations. From what dream were they born? For what purpose? Research in AI is now funded in the billions of dollars. But how do we ensure that machines programmed by humans respect ethics and make moral choices? Will Artificial Intelligence and big data ever be used to pre-emptively identify suspected individuals and declare them suspicious? To reduce freedom of expression and dissent? To select and sort out migrants and refugees? Or to select those who will be entitled to an education? Or to care?

Debate

Panelists

  • Flynn Coleman, international human rights lawyer, author, and social entrepreneur
  • Solange Ghernaouti, Professor at the University of Lausanne and international expert in cybersecurity and cyber defense
  • Lorna McGregor, Law Professor at the University of Essex, co-director and principal investigator of a project on human rights, big data, and technology

Moderator

  • Bruno Giussani, TED Global Curator and Chairman of the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights (FIFDH)

Film

The debate will be preceeded by the screening of the film Pre Crime.

Pre Crime

By Monika Hielscher and Matthias Heeder

Would you entrust your freedom to an algorithm? Designed by Philip K. Dick, and popularized by Spielberg's Minority Report, "pre-crime" is a surveillance technique designed to identify people likely to break the law. Far from science fiction, the method is widely used today. But how to guarantee the accuracy of the data? Who controls it? Who benefits?

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

SIDS Training GHRP News

Practical Training on Human Rights Council Procedures Strengthens SIDS/LDCs Engagement

21 July 2025

Sixteen diplomats from fifteen Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries participated in a two-day Practical Training on Human Rights Council Procedures.

Read more

GHRP Ai for Good Workshop News

Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Human Rights Monitoring: Key Takeaways from the AI for Good Workshop

22 July 2025

Our event brought together human rights practitioners, data scientists, and AI experts to explore how artificial intelligence can support efforts to monitor human rights and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Read more

A destroyed camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Khor Abeche, South Darfur, Project

Understanding the Relationship between Conflict, Security and the Human Right to a Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment

Started in May 2023

This project will develop guidance to inform security, human rights and environmental debates on the linkages between environmental rights and conflict, and how their better management can serve as a tool in conflict prevention, resilience and early warning.

Read more

Online folders Project

Digital Human Rights Tracking Tools and Databases

Started in March 2023

This initiative wishes to contribute to better and more coordinated implementation, reporting and follow-up of international human rights recommendations through a global study on digital human rights tracking tools and databases.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more