The role of social participation in the inclusion of Artificial Intelligence in the G20 Leaders' Declaration

The G20 Leaders' Declaration of 2024, held in Rio de Janeiro, places Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a central issue for sustainable development, and human rights in the international context. Read an exclusive article on the G20 Brasil website by Atahualpa Blanchet, a USP's Institute for Advanced Studies researcher and a member of PUC-SP's Digital Transformation and Society Group.

The document signed by the heads of state reaffirms fundamental ethical principles such as algorithmic transparency, explainability, non-discrimination, privacy, and data protection. It directly reflects the accumulation of debates and inputs generated from participation spaces, such as the G20 Social, L20, and other G20 working groups, such as the Digital Economy WG and the G20 Working and Employment Group, for example.

These spaces brought perspectives from different actors on AI's potential, risks, and challenges and its respective impact on areas such as health, education, the environment, and the world of work. They also discussed aspects related to information integrity in digital media and the perception of reality in exciting fields of innovation such as neurotechnology.

Artificial Intelligence in the G20 Leaders' Declaration

The G20 Leaders' Declaration emphasizes that AI progress brings great opportunities for development within the framework of the digital economy and that technology requires a responsible approach to ensure its ethical and human-centered implementation. 

In addition, the document highlights the importance of establishing safeguards to uphold human rights, promoting AI governance that considers elements such as algorithmic biases, the need for human supervision, and appropriate regulation aligned with the application of the principles listed in the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI and the MERCOSUR Declaration of Human Rights Principles in the context of Artificial Intelligence. These serve as guides and reference tools for aligning technological development with human values. 

At the same time, the Declaration recognizes that the integration of AI in work environments must be mediated by social dialogue and collective negotiation processes, emphasizing the importance of including workers in the design of technological solutions and in monitoring their impacts on working conditions. In this sense, it also mentions training, qualification, and requalification policies based on concepts such as skills training and lifelong learning.

Another highlight is the commitment to promote a responsible and inclusive AI focused on the education and health sectors, which contributes to reducing digital gaps with racial gender and ethnicity, especially in developing countries, inserted in the paradigm of human-algorithm interaction. 

Combating Disinformation and Information Integrity

The Declaration addressed the information integrity in digital media and combating disinformation, especially on critical topics such as climate change. Along with the progress made in the instrument, the Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change was launched to address these challenges, highlighting the transparency and accountability of digital platforms. This action, which involved the participation of the UN and UNESCO, reflects the need for healthy information ecosystems that respect privacy, protect data, and promote the reliable flow of information.

The spread of false information, especially on sensitive topics like climate change, represents a growing challenge in a context influenced by AI and digital platforms. The initiative launched within the G20 framework seeks to hold digital platforms accountable and promote international cooperation to regulate the information environment, protecting the right to access reliable information.

The Role of Social Participation in the Inclusion of AI Topics

The inclusion of issues like ethics in AI and social dialogue in the Leaders' Declaration was directly influenced by the contributions of G20 engagement groups. The G20 Social, in particular, has played a key role in bringing diverse perspectives and connecting global debates with local realities. An example was the debate on the impact of Artificial Intelligence proposed by the National Human Rights Council of Brasil (CNDH). Social movements, civil society entities, academia, governments, and international organizations attended the activity.

During the event, organized in parallel with the official meeting of leaders, social movements, trade unions, and academic institutions, presented analyses and recommendations on AI's impact on human rights, the world of work, and the strengthening of information integrity in digital media.

The L20, a group that brings together global unions, also made a prominent contribution. This forum emphasized the urgency of protecting workers' rights in an increasingly digitalized environment, advocating for using emerging technologies like AI to promote decent work and social inclusion. 

Concrete proposals were discussed, such as guidelines for the ethical and safe use of AI in the workplace, which were eventually incorporated into the Declaration's text. This shows the relevance of social dialogue for global policymaking.

The relevance of contributions from social participation is based on historical experiences in significant events, such as the Mercosur Social Summits, which brought a collaborative approach to the construction of regional policies, the Peoples' Summit at Rio +20, which expanded the debate on social justice and sustainability, and the World Social Forum, which, in the early 2000s, brought together the international community in search of another possible world. 

These precedents reinforce the importance of opening institutional spaces for civil society, ensuring that their voices are heard at international forums.

The Centrality of Social Dialogue and the Principles of Responsible AI

The G20 Leaders' Declaration recognized that the successful integration of emerging technologies in workplaces depends on participatory and inclusive processes. Social dialogue was highlighted as an essential tool to ensure that society has an active voice in the introduction of new technologies. This is especially relevant in the context of AI, which profoundly transforms social relations on topics such as public safety, labor, employment, the environment, health and education, and communication, among others, raising questions about guaranteeing fundamental rights and principles.

The Declaration reaffirms the principles of algorithmic transparency and explainability, which are essential to mitigate risks associated with discrimination and the opacity of AI systems. These points should influence the national regulations of the G20 member countries. In addition, the prioritization of values such as privacy and data protection reflects the G20's commitment to align technological development with human rights, strengthening confidence in the use of digital technologies.

The Future of AI Governance in the G20

The G20 of 2024, led by Brasil, set important precedents for the future of international Artificial Intelligence governance. Integrating ethical principles linked to the affirmation of human rights reflects the impact of social participation and multi-sectoral dialogue. The Leaders' Declaration demonstrated that responsible and human-centered governance is possible when the interests of civil society and social movements are incorporated into decision-making processes.

Strengthening international cooperation and including developing countries are essential to ensure that AI's benefits are widely shared and risks are equitably mitigated. The G20 will continue as a space for dialogue and articulation to advance this agenda, and the continuity of engagement mechanisms such as the G20 Social and L20 will be fundamental to ensuring that society's voice remains at the center of international forum decisions.

The progress achieved in 2024 should serve as a foundation for new discussions and initiatives under the South African presidency scheduled for 2025. These initiatives aim to strengthen ethical and responsible AI governance, aligned with human rights and the needs of a world undergoing rapid transformation.

*Translated by PGET-UFSC

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