National AI Governance Pathways

Coming from a background of working with communities affected by criminalization, marginalization and stigma, my reflection connects most strongly to the theme of national AI governance pathways.
In global health, AI governance cannot be treated only as a technical or regulatory question without recognizing that it is equally a question of power, rights and protection. For communities whose health, identities, behaviors or survival strategies have been historically monitored, judged and punished, the line between privacy and surveillance is not abstract.

The world health organization’s guidance on ethics and governance of AI for health reminds us that AI systems must place ethics, human rights and accountability at the center of their design, deployment and use. AI systems have the potential to expand access, dignity and care particularly in a moment of shrinking resources and civic spaces but they also risk deepening exclusion and control. Therefore, national AI governance must prevent AI from becoming a tool through which some actors exercise power over others through the safeguarding of people’s agency, consent and rights over their bodies, health and personal data.