Artificial impartiality: the insidious role of AI in reinforcing white supremacy in Canada

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Date
2023-03-14
Authors
Thind, Jessie
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Abstract

Using a critical race lens, this paper explores how artificial intelligence (AI) oppresses racialized individuals while reinforcing white supremacy. This issue is important given Canada’s investment and use of AI technologies in multiple sectors, including law enforcement, immigration, and employment — the use of which has led to systemic discrimination against racialized groups and violations of their fundamental human rights. By exploring how AI is characterized as White, the use of AI in eliminating the fuller attributes of racialized bodies, and the racially homogenous nature of the tech sector, this paper demonstrates that AI advances white supremacist ideology by creating a system where White individuals overwhelmingly control power and privilege. In addition, magnifying the lived experiences of racialized individuals reveals how AI systemically discriminates against racialized groups, further oppressing racialized individuals. This discrimination also infringes on fundamental human rights, as this paper examines in international and domestic law. It is clear that AI governance is required to combat the discriminatory impacts of AI. To do so, this paper advocates for AI governance based on a human rights approach and has provided recommendations to mitigate the discriminatory impact of AI.

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Keywords
artificial intelligence, human rights, white supremacy, racial discrimination
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