EMRIP19: Agenda Item 8 – Panel Discussion on rights of Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence

19th Session of the UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)
13^th to 17^th July 2026, Geneva, Switzerland

Joint Statement on

Agenda Item 8: Panel Discussion on rights of Indigenous Peoples and Artificial Intelligence

Presented by: Alexyss McClellan-Ufugusuku (Uchinaanchu of the Ryukyu Archipelago) on behalf of Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus

Haisai gusuyo distinguished experts, I am delivering this statement on behalf of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Caucus.

Our languages, oral histories, Indigenous knowledge, faces, cultural expressions and community data are already being scraped, digitized and compiled without our knowledge, control, nor free, prior and informed consent. Information already available about Indigenous Peoples has often been created by others and can be incomplete, biased or rooted in colonial perspectives.

We are alarmed that governments, academics and business enterprises are creating datasets from our Indigenous knowledge and languages, and making them accessible for artificial intelligence use. Free, Prior and Informed Consent cannot be reduced to simply clicking a box or digitally accepting terms that many in our communities may not have read or understood. Our knowledge is collective. Decisions about its use must be grounded in our customary laws, our collective decision-making processes and our Indigenous governance systems.

We are also deeply concerned by the lack of access to technology that many Indigenous communities face. Across Asia, many Indigenous communities do not have reliable internet or basic digital infrastructure. Indigenous women, youth, elders and persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected. Artificial intelligence cannot be understood as “inclusive” when Indigenous Peoples have been left out of its design, governance and use.

Therefore, we call upon States, the United Nations and technology companies to respect and protect our collective rights and Indigenous data sovereignty; ensure full and effective participation and obtain our free, prior and informed consent in the development and application of artificial intelligence. Further, companies must prevent our knowledge, languages and cultural expressions from being used and commercialized without our collective consent, and providing funding must be secured for Indigenous-led digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence literacy, and technologies that our communities have direct control over.

Lastly, we urge EMRIP to issue specific guidance on artificial intelligence that upholds our rights, is developed in partnership with Indigenous Peoples, implements the UNDRIP, respects our right to self-determination and Indigenous data sovereignty.

Artificial intelligence should not become another tool of digital colonization.

Thank you.

Click here to download the full statement on EMRIP19 Agenda Item 8