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• Introduction

4
  • §1. AI & Human Rights
  • §2. Right to Human Rights
  • §3. Generations of Human Rights
  • §4. Right to International Cooperation

I. Dignity

1
  • I.A. Right to Dignity and Worth of the Human Person

II. Rights of Vulnerable Populations

11
  • II.A. Rights of Children
  • II.B. Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • II.C. Rights of LGBT+ People
  • II.D. Rights of Migrant Workers
  • II.E. Rights of Older Persons
  • II.F. Rights of People Experiencing Poverty
  • II.G. Rights of Persons with Disabilities
  • II.H. Rights of Racial and Ethnic Minorities
  • II.I. Rights of Refugees
  • II.J. Rights of Religious Minorities
  • II.K. Rights of Women

III. Peace

6
  • III.A. Right to Peace
  • III.B. Recognition as a Person Before the Law
  • III.C. Freedom from Slavery and Servitude
  • III.D. Freedom from Torture and Inhumane or Degrading Treatment
  • III.E. Right to Prevention of and Protection from Genocide
  • III.F. Right to Security of Person and Protection by the State

IV. Justice

10
  • IV.A. Right to Life, Liberty, and Personal Security
  • IV.B. Right to Legal Recognition
  • IV.C. Right to Equality before the Law
  • IV.D. Right to a Fair Trial and Due Process
  • IV.E. Right to Presumption of Innocence until Proven Guilty
  • IV.F. Right to Justice and Accountability
  • IV.G. Right to Truth, Redress, and Information
  • IV.H. Right to Protection from Persecution
  • IV.I. Right to Equality and Non-Discrimination
  • IV.J. Right to Remedy

IX. Civic Engagement

5
  • IX.A. Freedom of Assembly and Association
  • IX.B. Right to Free Elections
  • IX.C. Right to Participation in Public and Political Life
  • IX.D. Right to Participate in Cultural Life, Arts, and Science
  • IX.E. Right to Personal Mobility

UN General Assembly

1
  • UN General Assembly

V. Privacy

6
  • V.A. Right to Data Protection and Freedom from Surveillance
  • V.B. Right to Control over Personal Data and Data Sovereignty
  • V.C. Right to Intellectual Property and Protection of Personal Creations
  • V.D. Right to Mental and Biological Privacy
  • V.E. Right to Informed Consent in Data Collection and AI Interactions
  • V.F. Right to Protection from AI Manipulation and Misinformation

VI. Movement

3
  • VI.A. Freedom of Movement and Residence
  • VI.B. Right to Seek Asylum from Persecution
  • VI.C. Right to a Nationality

VII. Family

5
  • VII.A. Right to Marry
  • VII.B. Right to Form a Family
  • VII.C. Right to Family Benefits
  • VII.D. Right to Family Unity
  • VII.E. Right to Own Property

VIII. Human Agency & Expression

6
  • VIII.A. Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion
  • VIII.B. Right to Language
  • VIII.C. Freedom of Opinion and Expression
  • VIII.D. Right to Self-Determination
  • VIII.E. Right to Live Independently and in Community
  • VIII.F. Right to Digital Identity

X. Education

5
  • X.A. Right to Education
  • X.B. Right to Higher Education
  • X.C. Right to Non-Discrimination in Education
  • X.D. Right to Cultural and Linguistic Education
  • X.E. Right to Education in Emergencies

XI. Work

13
  • XI.A. Right to Work
  • XI.B. Equal Opportunities and Treatment
  • XI.C. Right to Remuneration
  • XI.D. Right to Form and Join Trade Unions
  • XI.E. Right to Rest and Leisure
  • XI.F. Right to Protection against Unemployment
  • XI.G. Right to Retraining and Skill Development in Response to Technological Change
  • XI.H. Right to a Standard of Living Adequate for Health and Well-being
  • XI.I. Right to Food, Clothing, and Housing
  • XI.J. Right to Social Security
  • XI.K. Right to Development
  • XI.L. Corporate Responsibility to Respect Human Rights
  • XI.M. Human Rights Due Diligence

XII. Health

5
  • XII.A. Right to Health and Medical Care
  • XII.B. Right to Environmental Health
  • XII.C. Right to Water and Sanitation
  • XII.D. Right to Mental Health
  • XII.E. Right to Protection from Harmful Effects of AI in Healthcare

XIII. Environmental Rights

3
  • XIII.A. Right to a Healthy Environment
  • XIII.B. Right to Sustainable Development
  • XIII.C. Right to Protection from Environmental Harm due to Technological Advancements

XIV. Digital Rights & Technology

8
  • XIV.A. Right to Access to Science and Technology
  • XIV.B. Right to Internet Access
  • XIV.C. Right to Ethical AI and Emerging Technologies
  • XIV.D. Digital Rights and Online Freedoms
  • XIV.E. Right to Algorithmic Transparency and Accountability
  • XIV.F. Right to Protection from Cyber Threats and Cybersecurity
  • XIV.G. Right to Digital Self-Determination
  • XIV.H. Right to Fair and Equitable Access to AI Benefits
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V.B. Right to Control over Personal Data and Data Sovereignty

Our global network of contributors to the AI & Human Rights Index is currently writing these articles and glossary entries. This particular page is currently in the recruitment and research stage. Please return later to see where this page is in the editorial workflow. Thank you! We look forward to learning with and from you.


[Insert statement of urgency and significance for why this right relates to AI.]

Sectors #

The contributors of the AI & Human Rights Index have identified the following sectors as responsible for both using AI to protect and advance this human right.

  • GOV: Government and Public Sector
  • REG: Regulatory and Oversight Bodies
  • TECH: Technology and IT
  • LAW: Legal and Law Enforcement
  • BUS: Business Sectors
  • FIN: Financial Services
  • HLTH: Healthcare and Public Health
  • EDU: Education and Research
  • SOC: Social Services and Housing
  • INTL: International Organizations and Relations
  • DEF: Defense and Military

AI’s Potential Violations #

[Insert 300- to 500-word analysis of how AI could violate this human right.]

AI’s Potential Benefits #

[Insert 300- to 500-word analysis of how AI could advance this human right.]

Human Rights Instruments #

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) #

G.A. Res. 217 (III) A, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, U.N. Doc. A/RES/217(III) (Dec. 10, 1948).

Article 12

No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his Privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honour and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950) #

1950 Eur. T.S. No. 5, European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Nov. 4, 1950).

Article 8

Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national Security, public Safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) #

G.A. Res. 2200A (XXI), International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, U.N. Doc. A/6316 (1966), 999 U.N.T.S. 171 (Dec. 16, 1966)

Article 12

1. Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and Freedom to choose his residence.

2. Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.

3. The above-mentioned rights shall not be subject to any restrictions except those which are provided by law, are necessary to protect national Security, public order (ordre public), public health or morals or the rights and freedoms of others, and are consistent with the other rights recognized in the present Covenant.

4. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country.

American Convention on Human Rights (1969) #

Organization of American States, American Convention on Human Rights, O.A.S. Treaty Ser. No. 36, 1144 U.N.T.S. 123 (Nov. 22, 1969).

Article 11

2. No one may be the object of arbitrary or abusive interference with his private life, his family, his home, or his correspondence, or of unlawful attacks on his honour or reputation.

OECD Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data (1980) #

OECD, Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data (Sept. 23, 1980).

Principle VIII

An individual should have the right:

(a) to obtain from a Data controller, or otherwise, confirmation of whether the Data controller holds Data relating to him;

(b) to have communicated to him, Data relating to him;

(c) to challenge Data relating to him and, if the challenge is successful, to obtain rectification, erasure or blocking of Data.

Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (1981) #

Council of Europe, Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data, ETS No. 108 (Jan. 28, 1981).

Article 1

The purpose of this Convention is to secure in the territory of each Party for every individual, whatever his nationality or residence, respect for his rights and fundamental freedoms, and in particular his right to Privacy, with regard to automatic processing of personal Data relating to him.

Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) #

G.A. Res. 44/25, Convention on the Rights of the Child, U.N. Doc. A/44/49, 44 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 167 (Nov. 20, 1989).

Article 16

No child shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with his or her Privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to unlawful attacks on his or her honour and reputation. The child has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks

United Nations Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerized Personal Data Files (1990) #

G.A. Res. 45/95, United Nations Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerized Personal Data Files, annex, U.N. Doc. A/Res/45/95 (Dec. 14, 1990).

Principle IV

Any person should have the right:

(i) to be informed of the existence of personal Data records relating to him;

(ii) to have communicated to him in an intelligible form Data relating to him;

(iii) to express his point of view before any decision is taken on the Data subject that would affect him adversely; (iv) to obtain rectification or erasure of Data.

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2000) #

Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, 2000 O.J. (C 364) 1.

Article 8

1. Everyone has the right to the protection of personal Data concerning him or her. 2. Such Data must be processed fairly for specified purposes and on the basis of the Consent of the person concerned or some other legitimate basis laid down by law. 3. Everyone has the right of access to Data which has been collected concerning him or her, and the right to have it rectified.

Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006) #

G.A. Res. 61/106, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, U.N. Doc. A/Res/61/106 (Dec. 13, 2006).

Article 22

2. States Parties shall protect the Privacy of personal, health and rehabilitation information of persons with disabilities on an equal basis with others.

Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (2014) #

African Union, Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection, CAB/LEG/24.3 (June 27, 2014).

Article 10

Each State Party shall adopt appropriate measures to ensure that the processing of personal Data relating to them is adequate, relevant and not excessive in relation to the purposes for which they were collected and/or further processed.

Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021) #

UNESCO, Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (Nov. 26, 2021).

Article 9

1. States should ensure that any system that collects, stores or processes personal Data—particularly AI systems—adheres to the highest standards of Privacy, confidentiality and Security, and respects Data subject rights including informed Consent, access, rectification and deletion.


1.0 Research
2.0 Curate
3.0 Review
4.0 Revise
5.0 Published

Last Updated:  May 1, 2025

Research Assistant:  Amisha Rastogi

Contributor:  To Be Determined

Reviewer:  To Be Determined

Editor:  Georgina Curto Rex

Subject:  Human Right

Edition:  Edition 1.0 Research

Recommended Citation:  "V.B. Right to Control over Personal Data and Data Sovereignty, Edition 1.0 Research." In AI & Human Rights Index, edited by Nathan C. Walker, Dirk Brand, Caitlin Corrigan, Georgina Curto Rex, Alexander Kriebitz, John Maldonado, Kanshukan Rajaratnam, and Tanya de Villiers-Botha. New York: All Tech is Human; Camden, NJ: AI Ethics Lab at Rutgers University, 2025. Accessed December 13, 2025. https://aiethicslab.rutgers.edu/Docs/v-b-data-sovereignty/.

Updated on May 1, 2025

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V.C. Right to Intellectual Property and Protection of Personal CreationsV.A. Right to Data Protection and Freedom from Surveillance
Table of Contents
  • Sectors
  • AI’s Potential Violations
  • AI’s Potential Benefits
  • Human Rights Instruments
    • Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
    • European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950)
    • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)
    • American Convention on Human Rights (1969)
    • OECD Guidelines on the Protection of Privacy and Transborder Flows of Personal Data (1980)
    • Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data (1981)
    • Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989)
    • United Nations Guidelines for the Regulation of Computerized Personal Data Files (1990)
    • Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2000)
    • Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006)
    • Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection (2014)
    • Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (2021)
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