The Scott-Morgan Foundation
AI Bill of Rights: Protecting Human Dignity and
Self-Determination in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

A Framework for Disability Rights, Neuroethics, and Human-Centered AI Development |Version 1.0 - November 2024

Sections:
Our Core Belief
Preamble
Declaration of Rights
Implementation Framework
Our Commitment
Acknowledgments

Our Core Belief

Communication is the foundation of human dignity and safety. Without the ability to communicate, a person cannot advocate for their needs, protect themselves from harm, access education, build relationships, or participate fully in society. When disease or disability takes away someone's voice, technology must restore it—not as charity, but as a fundamental human right.

Every person is the ultimate authority over their own experience, cognition, and interaction with artificial intelligence. We believe in building AI systems WITH people, especially those living with disabilities, not FOR them. Technology must amplify human agency, never diminish it. We reject any approach that positions AI as a replacement for human judgment, autonomy, or dignity.

Communication is not a luxury. It is essential for survival, learning, and thriving. We commit to democratizing communication technology because silence is not just isolation; it is erasure.

Preamble

We, the Scott-Morgan Foundation, together with our partners including Young AI Leaders, and the global disability community, establish this AI Bill of Rights to protect the fundamental dignity, autonomy, and self-determination of all individuals interacting with artificial intelligence systems. We recognize that people living with disabilities are often the first to encounter emerging AI technologies and therefore must be centered in the development of ethical frameworks that protect everyone.

This Bill of Rights addresses the full spectrum of AI interaction, from ambient listening systems and multi-agent environments to avatars and cognitive augmentation technologies. We reject extractive approaches that mine human experiences without consent and commit to equitable development practices that honor diverse ways of being.

Declaration of Rights

1. Right to Informed Partnership and Education

Every individual has the right to understand and control their AI experience:

Comprehensive education about AI capabilities and limitations before implementation
Clear explanation of how multi-agent systems work and interact
Right to trial periods and gradual implementation
Understanding of data collection and processing in ambient systems
Education about voice synthesis and avatar creation processes
Right to technical support and ongoing training
Clear documentation of system functions and controls
Protection against overwhelming or confusing technology deployment

2. Right to Equitable Development and Co-Creation

AI development must center those most impacted:

Meaningful participation of disabled individuals in all stages of AI development
Recognition of lived experience as essential expertise
Right to leadership roles in technology design decisions
Protection against extractive research practices
Fair compensation for contributions to AI development
Right to refuse participation in AI research or testing
Access to AI development resources and training
Protection against tokenistic inclusion

3. Right to Multi-Agent System Control

In complex AI environments, human control remains paramount:

Transparency in multi-agent decision-making processes
Right to understand which agents are active and their functions
Ability to enable, disable, or modify individual agents
Control over agent-to-agent communication
Right to human oversight of agent decisions
Protection against agent systems making irreversible decisions
Right to audit agent behavior and decision logs
Control over ambient data collection and processing

4. Right to Authentic Self-Expression

AI must support, never supplant, human expression:

Control over how AI interprets and represents emotional states
Right to maintain authentic communication patterns
Protection against AI "correction" of natural human variation
Control over AI assistance in communication and expression
Right to refuse AI mediation of human interaction
Protection of diverse communication methods and preferences
Right to contextual expression across different environments

5. Right to Data Justice and Privacy

Complete control over personal data and AI interaction:

Ownership of all data generated through AI interaction
Right to understand data usage in AI training and operation
Control over data sharing with third parties
Right to data portability and deletion
Protection against discriminatory data practices
Transparent data governance policies
Right to algorithmic auditing and explanation
Protection against data colonization

6. Right to Intellectual Property and Innovation

Recognition of human creativity and contribution:

Full ownership of innovations created with AI assistance
Protection against unauthorized use of personal AI training data
Right to fair compensation for AI model improvements
Control over AI-generated content using personal data
Protection of traditional knowledge and cultural practices
Right to withdraw intellectual property from AI systems

7. Right to Accessibility and Universal Design

AI must be inherently accessible:

Right to AI systems designed for diverse abilities from inception
Protection against AI that creates new barriers
Right to multiple interaction modalities
AI assistance that adapts to individual needs
Protection against discrimination in AI system access
Right to AI that supports independent living
Access to AI customization tools and training

8. Right to Cultural and Contextual Respect

AI must honor diverse ways of being:

Protection against cultural homogenization by AI systems
Right to AI that respects cultural values and practices
Protection against AI imposing external norms or values
Right to culturally appropriate AI interaction
Protection of indigenous knowledge systems
Right to reject AI systems that conflict with personal values

9. Right to Transparent Governance

Clear accountability in AI development and deployment:

Right to understand AI decision-making processes
Access to AI system documentation and limitations
Right to appeal or contest AI decisions
Transparent reporting of AI system failures or harms
Right to participate in AI governance structures
Protection against opaque or unaccountable AI systems

10. Legacy and Perpetual Rights

Protection extends beyond lifetime:

Control over posthumous use of personal AI data
Right to digital legacy planning
Protection of AI-generated content after death
Family/designee control over ongoing AI systems
Right to digital memorial or deletion choices

Implementation Framework

Partner Obligations
All organizations working with AI systems must:

Undergo regular human rights impact assessments
Implement participatory design processes with diverse voices including young leaders
Provide transparent algorithmic auditing
Maintain end-to-end encryption and security
Offer comprehensive user education and support
Establish clear accountability mechanisms
Engage in ongoing dialogue with disability communities across all age groups

Enforcement and Accountability

Independent oversight bodies with disability community representation
Regular compliance auditing by third parties
Public reporting of rights violations and remediation
Community feedback mechanisms and response protocols
Legal protection for rights violations

Evolution and Adaptation
This living document will evolve through:

Annual review with community stakeholders including Young AI Leaders
Responsive updates to emerging technologies
Integration of ongoing research and lived experience
Cross-cultural consultation and adaptation
Incorporation of legal and regulatory developments

Our Commitment

We commit to building AI systems that recognize the full humanity, agency, and dignity of every person. We reject the false choice between technological advancement and human rights. Instead, we choose to build technology that amplifies human potential while respecting human autonomy.

The future of AI must be written by those who will be most impacted by it. We commit to ensuring that people living with disabilities continue to lead in shaping that future.

Acknowledgements

This Bill of Rights was developed in partnership with Young AI Leaders, people living with ALS/MND who are testing cutting-edge assistive technologies, and disability rights advocates worldwide. Special recognition goes to the innovators like Bernard, whose lived experience and technical expertise demonstrate that the best solutions come from those who need them most.

The Scott-Morgan Foundation AI Bill of Rights: Protecting Human Dignity and Self-Determination in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Sections: Our Core Belief Preamble Declaration of Rights Implementation Framework Our Commitment Acknowledgments

Our Core Belief

Preamble

Declaration of Rights

1. Right to Informed Partnership and Education Every individual has the right to understand and control their AI experience:

Comprehensive education about AI capabilities and limitations before implementation

Clear explanation of how multi-agent systems work and interact

Right to trial periods and gradual implementation

Understanding of data collection and processing in ambient systems

Education about voice synthesis and avatar creation processes

Right to technical support and ongoing training

Clear documentation of system functions and controls

Protection against overwhelming or confusing technology deployment

2. Right to Equitable Development and Co-Creation AI development must center those most impacted:

Meaningful participation of disabled individuals in all stages of AI development

Recognition of lived experience as essential expertise

Right to leadership roles in technology design decisions

Protection against extractive research practices

Fair compensation for contributions to AI development

Right to refuse participation in AI research or testing

Access to AI development resources and training

Protection against tokenistic inclusion

3. Right to Multi-Agent System Control In complex AI environments, human control remains paramount:

Transparency in multi-agent decision-making processes

Right to understand which agents are active and their functions

Ability to enable, disable, or modify individual agents

Control over agent-to-agent communication

Right to human oversight of agent decisions

Protection against agent systems making irreversible decisions

Right to audit agent behavior and decision logs

Control over ambient data collection and processing

4. Right to Authentic Self-Expression AI must support, never supplant, human expression:

Control over how AI interprets and represents emotional states

Right to maintain authentic communication patterns

Protection against AI "correction" of natural human variation

Control over AI assistance in communication and expression

Right to refuse AI mediation of human interaction

Protection of diverse communication methods and preferences

Right to contextual expression across different environments

5. Right to Data Justice and Privacy Complete control over personal data and AI interaction:

Ownership of all data generated through AI interaction

Right to understand data usage in AI training and operation

Control over data sharing with third parties

Right to data portability and deletion

Protection against discriminatory data practices

Transparent data governance policies

Right to algorithmic auditing and explanation

Protection against data colonization

6. Right to Intellectual Property and Innovation Recognition of human creativity and contribution:

Full ownership of innovations created with AI assistance

Protection against unauthorized use of personal AI training data

Right to fair compensation for AI model improvements

Control over AI-generated content using personal data

Protection of traditional knowledge and cultural practices

Right to withdraw intellectual property from AI systems

7. Right to Accessibility and Universal Design AI must be inherently accessible:

Right to AI systems designed for diverse abilities from inception

Protection against AI that creates new barriers

Right to multiple interaction modalities

AI assistance that adapts to individual needs

Protection against discrimination in AI system access

Right to AI that supports independent living

Access to AI customization tools and training

8. Right to Cultural and Contextual Respect AI must honor diverse ways of being:

Protection against cultural homogenization by AI systems

Right to AI that respects cultural values and practices

Protection against AI imposing external norms or values

Right to culturally appropriate AI interaction

Protection of indigenous knowledge systems

Right to reject AI systems that conflict with personal values

9. Right to Transparent Governance Clear accountability in AI development and deployment:

Right to understand AI decision-making processes

Access to AI system documentation and limitations

Right to appeal or contest AI decisions

Transparent reporting of AI system failures or harms

Right to participate in AI governance structures

Protection against opaque or unaccountable AI systems

10. Legacy and Perpetual Rights Protection extends beyond lifetime:

Control over posthumous use of personal AI data