Their Data, Whose Decision? The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence in Humanitarian Response

The following project was produced by a working group from the second Carnegie Ethics Fellows cohort reflecting nearly two years of convenings, collaboration, and research. Each report in this special series examines a critical issue at the intersection of ethics and international affairs. The Carnegie Ethics Fellowship aims to develop the next generation of ethical leaders across business, government, academia, and non-governmental organizations.

Across sectors, AI systems are creating significant opportunities while raising complex ethical challenges. This report focuses on one specific dimension of that transformation: the growing integration of AI into humanitarian response.

Through a series of case studies examining humanitarian AI deployments and wider examples of data-driven decision-making—including biometric identity systems, digital service delivery, predictive analytics, and crisis response tools—this report explores how these ethical challenges emerge in practice and proposes a three-part ethical framework.

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an independent and nonpartisan nonprofit. The views expressed within this project are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of Carnegie Council or the authors’ employers.