A case study of Colombia’s Ethical Framework for Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in the public sector provide multiple opportunities for promoting equity and a better quality of life for all. However, beyond the technological advantages and potential uses of AI societies currently face the challenge of determining the ethical limitations of implementing AI-based applications and their impact on people’s lives. To promote the fair and transparent use of AI applications, some governments have created ethical frameworks to determine their advantages and limitations and reduce the risks regarding new applications or processes currently implemented by public institutions. This paper analyzes AI policy documents in Colombia, focusing in the “Ethical Framework for AI” prepared by the Colombian government and published in 2020. This framework seeks to determine the social uses of AI and their potential impacts on society and establish desirable social “boundaries” for their implementation. Thus, this paper analyzes the main strategic areas in which Colombia is investing in AI, social policy and the concurrent ethical debates that are delimiting its use. This paper analyzes ethical principles and policy recommendations and whether they are being incorporated in the public policies and how these are conditioning social policy in Colombia.