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Artificial Intelligence: Religious Freedom

Asked by Ruth JonesLabourForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled Answered 17 March 2025UIN 37272

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the use of artificial intelligence to target minority religious communities on freedom of religion or belief globally.

Answered by Stephen Doughty

The UK remains strongly committed to freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for all abroad. It is our firm opinion that no one should live in fear because of what they do or do not believe in. The development and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and risks for the enjoyment of human rights, including FoRB. It is important that we champion the positive potential of technology, whilst taking action to mitigate risks. We do this by working with international partners and through multilateral fora including the UN and on FoRB specifically, through our engagement in the Article 18 Alliance, which has a dedicated workstream on AI and FoRB.

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