The conundrum is one that many governments face: how do you make the most of technological advances in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) while protecting people's rights? This applies to government as both a user of the tech and a regulator with a mandate to protect the public. Australia's Human Rights Commission recently undertook an exercise to consider this very question. Its final report, Human Rights and Technology, was published recently and includes some 38 recommendations – from establishing an AI Safety Commissioner to introducing legislation so that a person is notified when a company uses AI in a decision that affects them. We have rounded up some of the report's recommendations for governments about how to ensure greater use of AI-informed decision-making does not result in human rights disaster.

The federal government should establish an AI Safety Commissioner and halt the use of facial recognition and algorithms in important decision-making until adequate protections are in place, the Australian Human Rights Commission has concluded after a three-year investigation. The Australian Human Rights Commission's (AHRC) report on Human Rights and Technology was tabled in Parliament on Thursday afternoon, with 38 recommendations to the government on ensuring human rights are upheld in the laws, policies, funding and education on artificial intelligence. Human Rights Commissioner Ed Santow has urged local, state, territory and federal governments to put on hold the use of facial recognition and AI in decision-making that has a significant impact on individuals. This moratorium should be until adequate legislation is in place that regulates the use of these technologies and ensures human rights are protected. The use of automation and algorithms in government decision-making should also be paused until a range of protections and transparency measures are in place, Mr Santow said in the report.