An analysis of the international and European Union legal instruments for holding artificial intelligence accountable

Abstract

Despite being applauded as a great technological breakthrough of the current century, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology and its operations keep attracting condemnations because of the failure by most countries to regulate and hold AI accountable. This assertion is made against the backdrop that mostly, AI perform functions and activities just like human beings, as such, AI is prone to make mistakes which might even negatively impact human beings and violate human rights. Mistake calls for accountability. This paper accentuates that even if there are no clear provisions in some country’s statute books, there are existing international and European Union legal instruments for regulating and holding AI accountable should it erred. Methodologically, using literature review research approach, this paper highlights and discusses selected but salient international and European legal instruments which have direct and indirect impacts on AI, especially pertaining to regulation, liability and accountability.