Abstract
The unavailability of identification documents is a determining factor leading to social and economic exclusion for undocumented people. They cannot interact with public bodies and private subjects in an official way, so they cannot access services (healthcare, education, social welfare, etc.) or obtain formal employment. This sort of ‘identity gap’ between undocumented people and individuals with ID documents exacerbates socioeconomic discrepancies and inequalities and does not permit inclusive social development. Artificial intelligence represents a valid instrument in accomplishing the goal to provide legal identity for all. AI algorithms could take care of several related tasks, such as identity authentication/validation, data matching and storage. However, using AI tools to collect and manage identity-related data comes with risks and drawbacks worth mentioning. Social and cultural influences contribute to the development of personal identity that is not limited to official documents. Thus, AI-driven technologies deployed in identity management should also consider such elements in performing their tasks. This chapter argues for adequate human rights safeguards when deploying AI algorithms to manage identity-related data. More specifically, this contribution calls for human oversight mechanisms and the periodical recalibration of such algorithms to address mutating environmental variables in the development of personal identity.
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Notes
- 1.
IOM World Migration Report, https://worldmigrationreport.iom.int/2020 (last access 23/12/2021).
- 2.
A brief summary of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum is available at the following link https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/promoting-our-european-way-life/new-pact-migration-and-asylum_en (last access 19/12/2021).
- 3.
Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 June 2013 on the establishment of ‘Eurodac’ for the comparison of fingerprints.
- 4.
Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC
- 5.
Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL LAYING DOWN HARMONISED RULES ON ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ACT) AND AMENDING CERTAIN UNION LEGISLATIVE ACTS, COM/2021/206 final.
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Forti, M. (2023). A Legal Identity for All Through Artificial Intelligence: Benefits and Drawbacks in Using AI Algorithms to Accomplish SDG 16.9. In: Mazzi, F., Floridi, L. (eds) The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence for the Sustainable Development Goals . Philosophical Studies Series, vol 152. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21147-8_14
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