HRC63 General debate on the oral update of the High Commissioner

63rd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council Item 2: General debate on the oral update of the High Commissioner. National statement delivered by Councellor Anna-Mari Wong Hämäläinen, Deputy Permanent Representative of Finland on Tuesday 8 September 2026.

Mr. President,

We thank the High Commissioner for his update and reiterate Finland’s strong support for him and his Office’s important work worldwide.

As technological change accelerates, new human rights challenges are emerging alongside longstanding concerns. Generative artificial intelligence has enormous potential to advance education, healthcare, public services and sustainable development. At the same time, it may deepen discrimination, enable intrusive surveillance, undermine privacy, and contribute to the spread of disinformation and social polarization.

As AI technologies develop at unprecedented speed, it is essential that human rights considerations, together with transparency, accountability and effective safeguards, are integrated into governance frameworks from the outset. The High Commissioner has rightly emphasized the importance of placing human rights at the centre of discussions on digital technologies and artificial intelligence. The time to focus on the human rights implications of AI is now.

High Commissioner, what human rights consequence of the rapid spread of generative AI do you consider to be most underestimated today?

Thank you.