Human Rights Technology: AI and Data for Social Impact

Human Rights Technology: Leveraging AI and Data for Social Impact

This document outlines Microsoft Research's initiative in Human Rights Technology, focusing on using AI and data science to combat human rights violations, specifically human trafficking and corruption. The project aims to develop and deploy technology solutions that empower communities and organizations to take evidence-based action.

Core Mission and Approach

The Human Rights Technology project is driven by the belief that human rights are universal and that technology can play a crucial role in ensuring their realization. The approach is rooted in use-inspired basic research, where Microsoft Research collaborates with domain experts and frontline organizations to create transformative technological solutions. This involves advancing fundamental research in areas like Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), data science, and engineering to build human-centered data technologies.

Problem Areas: Human Trafficking and Corruption

The project specifically targets human trafficking and corruption due to the significant societal impact and the availability of relevant data. Despite the potential of data to drive collective action, challenges remain:

• Human Trafficking: Victim case records contain valuable evidence, but privacy and safety concerns often prevent data sharing, hindering comprehensive analysis.
• Corruption: Open government data can reveal patterns of corruption, but deliberate suppression of incriminating relationships makes detection difficult.

Transparency-Enhancing Technologies

To address these challenges, Microsoft Research is developing a new class of transparency-enhancing technologies designed with human rights use cases in mind. These technologies aim to increase transparency and facilitate data-driven interventions:

• Intelligence Toolkit: Generates AI intelligence reports from real-world data sources.
• Synthetic Data Showcase: Enables safe and private sharing of sensitive case data through synthetic data generation.
• Transparency Engine: Maps entity relationships and identifies risks, particularly in contexts like corruption.
• ShowWhy: Facilitates causal decision-making and evidence-based policy development.

Key Initiatives and Partnerships

Beyond technology development, the project is involved in significant industry and company initiatives and partnerships:

• Tech Against Trafficking (TAT): An industry coalition collaborating with global experts to eradicate human trafficking using technology.
• Microsoft ACTS (Advanced Cloud Transparency Services): A program that leverages data and technology to help governments accelerate transparency.

Project Components and Resources

The project provides various resources and detailed information on its components:

• Intelligence Toolkit:
  • Open-source code on GitHub.
  • Articles, including "Empowering NGOs with generative AI in the fight against human trafficking" on the MSR blog.
• Synthetic Data Showcase:
  • Open-source code on GitHub.
  • Public utility web app on GitHub IO.
  • PAC-Synth (SmartNoise DP synthesizer).
  • Data releases, including differentially-private synthetic data on victims of human trafficking and victim-perpetrator relationships, with links to IOM and CTDC publications.
  • References in international reports like the US Department of State Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report.
• Transparency Engine:
  • Open-source code on GitHub.
  • Articles on revealing corruption structures and Microsoft ACTS.
  • Academic papers on spectral embedding and matrix factorization for network analysis.
• ShowWhy:
  • Open-source code on GitHub.
  • Articles on causal AI for decision-making and real-world evidence.
  • Videos demonstrating the tool and causal inference tutorials.
• Tech Against Trafficking:
  • Homepage and BSR initiative page.
  • Case studies and videos on technology's role in combating human trafficking.
  • Information on accelerator programs and landscape mapping of anti-trafficking tools.
  • Testimonies in US Congressional Hearings and references in international reports.
• Microsoft ACTS:
  • Homepage and articles detailing its work with Microsoft Research.
  • Focus on beneficial ownership transparency and open contracting partnerships.

Further Information and Engagement

More details can be found by contacting Darren Edge. The project page will be updated with future developments. The initiative also encourages engagement through social media channels like X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram, and provides an RSS feed for updates.

Image

The page features an image related to the project, described as "Chain-Link Fence Background."

Call to Action

Readers are encouraged to learn more, explore the tools, and engage with the project's mission to leverage technology for human rights.