Skip to main content

Technology is essential.
It should be fair.

Australians want technology that is safe, fair and reliable. But we know that new technologies can threaten our human rights to equality, non-discrimination, privacy, safety from violence, access and more.

Now is a critical time. As a nation, we can embrace new technologies, while upholding human rights and responding to ethical risks.

Edward Santow, Australian Human Rights Commissioner, led a three-year national initiative culminating in the Human Rights and Technology Final Report.

The Report sets out a roadmap for responsible innovation—taking advantage of the promise of new technology, while upholding our human rights. The Report’s recommendations will help ensure that new technologies are developed and used in ways that are inclusive, accountable, and with robust human rights safeguards.

Key messages

  • Australians want fair and safe technology.
  • Stronger laws and policies are needed to protect our human rights.
  • Australia can lead the way globally in responsible innovation.

The Human Rights and Technology
Final Report includes

38

recommendations

And was informed by

291

written submissions

725

consultation participants

2149

national survey participants

Australians want technology that is safe, fair and reliable. With the right settings—in law, policy, education and funding—the Australian Government and the private sector can build a firm foundation of public trust in new technology that is developed and used here.

Edward Santow, Australian Human Rights Commissioner

The UN's human rights framework has already been endorsed across the globe and can help mitigate the impact of new technologies on human rights, while on the other hand ethics vary significantly across different countries and cultures, and can more easily be misused or ignored.

Michelle Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Major project partners

Australian Government | Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Herbert Smith Freehills
LexisNexis
UTS