Rapid technological advances have signalled a shift towards the human-machine era. The human-machine era, characterised by its focus on communication through and with technology (Sayers et al., 2021), will continue to change the way in which language is used, and individuals use language to communicate and interact. These advances in technology have been recognised as creating opportunities to improve human rights, including creating and enhancing access to information, health education, and public services (United Nations 2023). However, the potential that technological advances and developments can bring to support improvements in human rights needs to be set against the (ongoing) challenges of maintaining linguistic and cultural diversity.Around 75% of the world’s languages are considered to be in danger of disappearing in the next century (UNESCO 2011). Currently the developments in technology are resulting in an increased linguistic homogeneity (The Centre for Internet and Society et al. 2022). Speakers of RMLs inherently have fewer resources and tools available to them in this domain, increasing the already existing digital divide. This inequality puts languages at risk of being ‘irrelevant and stigmatised’ (UNESCO Ad Hoc Expert Group on Endangered languages 2003: 11). Therefore, language diversityand vitality, as well as the associated community identity and intangible cultural heritage, is linked to inclusion of these languages within technological advancements. This means resolute action is required to ensure that, in line with the United Nations Universal Declaration for Human Rights, everyone can ‘participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts, and to share in the scientific advancement and its benefits’ (United Nations 1948: Article 22, emphasis by the authors), with ‘technology [serving] as a force for good’ (United Nations 2023). The current and future impact of the advances in technology has been recognised at supranational level with the establishment of advisory bodies and committees to provide recommendations and prepare legislative frameworks which acknowledge the benefits and risks that these advances bring to human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. These actions have focused on minimising risks and providing regulatory measures for artificial intelligence within the human rights framework but have not directly considered, addressed, or referred to the accessibility and availability of these tools and applications in and for different minority or regional language users. This is the focus of this briefing paper.

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