The Commission on Human Rights (CHR), as the country’s national human rights institution, remains steadfast in its mandate to safeguard the rights of all Filipinos, including in the digital sphere. In line with this, CHR has issued a position paper underscoring the urgent need to establish clear legal frameworks to guide the development and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI).

The Commission fully supports initiatives that harness AI for public good while emphasizing the imperative to uphold dignity, freedom, equality, and other fundamental rights. As AI technologies increasingly shape daily life, CHR highlights that their development and use must be anchored on democratic principles, ethical considerations, and international human rights standards.

The inherent rights to privacy, non-discrimination, and freedom of expression are already enshrined in domestic laws such as the 1987 Philippine Constitution, the Data Privacy Act, and the Cybercrime Prevention Act. These protections are further reinforced by international instruments, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

To prevent discriminatory or privacy-invasive practices, CHR calls for legal frameworks that strike a balance between regulation and innovation. Embedding a human rights-based approach in AI governance ensures that technological progress does not undermine people’s full enjoyment of their inherent rights.

CHR also stresses that the benefits of AI must not come at the expense of workers’ protection against unemployment. Article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which the Philippines is a State Party, affirms the responsibility of States to safeguard everyone’s right to gain a living through freely chosen work.

As the country’s Gender Ombud, CHR further urges that AI-related policies integrate a gender perspective. This includes addressing gender bias in recruitment, ensuring women’s active participation in AI policymaking, and mandating the use of gender-disaggregated data and inclusive design processes to prevent discriminatory outcomes.

In addition, CHR recommends the development of a foundational Magna Carta for Responsible AI, consolidating pending AI-related measures in Congress. Such legislation must be rooted in human rights principles, transparency, multi-stakeholder participation, and alignment with international standards.

By placing human rights at the core of AI regulation, the Philippines can build a future where technological innovation advances hand-in-hand with democratic values and human dignity.

Read the full CHR Position Paper on House Bills Promoting the Development, Regulation, and Framework for Artificial Intelligence here: bit.ly/CHRPositionPaperonAI.