OSCE warns AI threatens freedom of thought

The OSCE has launched a new publication warning that rapid progress in AI threatens the fundamental human right to freedom of thought. The report, Think Again: Freedom of Thought in the Age of AI, calls on governments to create human rights-based safeguards for emerging technologies.

Speaking during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, Professor Ahmed Shaheed of the University of Essex said that freedom of thought underpins most other rights and must be actively protected. He urged states to work with ODIHR to ensure AI development respects personal autonomy and dignity.

Experts at the event said AI’s growing influence on daily life risks eroding individuals’ ability to form independent opinions. They warned that manipulation of online information, targeted advertising, and algorithmic bias could undermine free thought and democratic participation.

ODIHR recommends states to prevent coercion, discrimination, and digital manipulation, ensuring societies remain open to diverse ideas. Protecting freedom of thought, the report concludes, is essential to preserving human dignity and democratic resilience in an age shaped by AI.

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