EU Warns AI Fuels Racism, Rejects New Treaties
At a UN General Assembly session, the European Union said digital platforms and artificial intelligence are driving discrimination.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence
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The European Union warned that artificial intelligence and digital platforms are driving racism and discrimination during an interactive dialogue at the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly's Third Committee on Monday. The EU statement, delivered on behalf of its member states, also rejected calls for new legal instruments under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
Why it matters
The EU's position signals that it sees existing frameworks as sufficient to address AI-driven discrimination, rather than requiring new international treaties. The dialogue reflects growing concern that misinformation and algorithmic bias are amplifying exclusionary narratives worldwide.
The discussion centered on the implementation of the 2001 Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, with the EU calling for stronger efforts to address algorithmic bias. The EU did not specify technical mechanisms or enforcement measures for algorithmic auditing in its statement.
The players
European Union
A political and economic union of 27 European member states that coordinates common policy positions, including on human rights and digital regulation.
UN General Assembly Third Committee
One of the six main committees of the United Nations General Assembly, which handles social, humanitarian and cultural matters including human rights.
The details
The EU reaffirmed its commitment to combating racism, antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Christian hatred and other forms of intolerance. The EU also expressed concern about the resurgence of extremist ideologies, arguing that digital spaces are accelerating these trends.
Timeline
2001: Durban Declaration adopted at the World Conference against Racism in Durban, South Africa.
Monday, 2 November 2026: EU delivers statement at the UN General Assembly Third Committee.
The Tech Race
The EU's position extends the 2001 Durban Declaration and Programme of Action to artificial intelligence, a technology that the original framework did not address. Rather than negotiating a new convention, the EU is arguing the existing International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination can absorb algorithmic bias.
The EU's position suggests that algorithmic bias in digital platforms may be addressed through existing anti-discrimination law rather than new rules. For everyday users, this means automated systems used in online content and recommendations remain subject to the current framework.
The takeaway
Algorithms reflect the data and assumptions behind them, so awareness of bias in the tools people use online is an increasingly practical part of digital literacy.
Further reading
For broader context on how these tools are shaping public debate, see our coverage of Artificial Intelligence.
Source note: This article includes information reported by APAnews - African Press Agency.
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