On September 18, 2024, the National Center for Artificial Intelligence Development under the Government of the Russian Federation (the National Center for AI) announced that 423 organizations signed the National Code of Ethics in the Sphere of Artificial Intelligence (the AI Code of Ethics), on the occasion of the International Technology Congress. The National Center for AI noted that the total number of signatories to the AI Code of Ethics is 820.

What is the AI Code of Ethics?

The National Center for AI noted that the AI Code of Ethics was developed by the Artificial Intelligence ​​Alliance (the AI Alliance) together with representatives of the academic community with the support of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. The AI Code of Ethics establishes general ethical principles and standards of conduct to be followed by those involved in activities in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) (also known as AI actors).

What are the main aspects of the AI Code of Ethics?

The AI Code of Ethics establishes as guiding principles for AI development:

• human-centered and humanistic approach;
• recognition of autonomy and free will of humans;
• compliance with the law;
• non-discrimination; and
• assessment of risks and humanitarian impact.

Furthermore, the AI Code of Ethics proposes a risk-based approach to AI, in which decisions related to AI that significantly affect society should be accompanied by a scientifically verified, interdisciplinary prediction of socio-economic consequences and risks and an examination of possible changes in the cultural development of society.

Data protection and security

Additionally, the AI Code of Ethics notes that AI actors should responsibly treat the impacts of AI systems on privacy, and ethical, safe, and responsible use of personal data at every stage of the AI system life cycle. AI actors should also comply with the national legislation in the field of data protection, data security, and information security by:

• ensuring the security and protection of personal data processed by AI systems;
• developing and integrating innovative methods to counter unauthorized access to personal data by third parties and use high-quality and representative datasets obtained without breaking the law from reliable sources; and
• ensuring the maximum possible protection from unauthorized interference of third parties in the operation of AI systems and integrating adequate information security technologies.

Human supervision

The AI Code of Ethics highlights that humans are always responsible for the consequences of AI systems application, meaning that AI actors should ensure comprehensive human supervision of AI systems and should not allow the transfer of the responsibility of moral choice to AI systems or delegate the responsibility for the consequences of decision-making to AI systems.

Transparency

The AI Code of Ethics also encourages AI actors to provide users with reliable information about the AI systems and the most effective methods of their use, harms, benefits, acceptable areas, and existing limitations of their use.

You can read the press release, only available in Russian, here and the AI Code of Ethics here.