Today, the Minderoo Centre for Technology and Democracy at the University of Cambridge has published a new report, BSL is not for Sale: a Deaf-led approach to AI procurement. Minderoo is an independent research team at Cambridge that studies how technologies reshape power, society, and the planet; their work informs public debate and policy.
The report sets out practical principles for government bodies considering AI systems that generate or interpret British Sign Language. It argues that Deaf communities must be meaningfully involved in decisions, testing, and governance; otherwise there are serious risks to access, safety, and trust. The foreword is by Robert Adam, Chair of the British Deaf Association, and Dr Joseph J. Murray, President of the World Federation of the Deaf.
BDA statement
“Deaf people are asking our Government to take a prudent, circumspect view on Artificial Intelligence. Techno-solutionism and cost-cutting must not be allowed to damage the human rights of sign language users.
Many millions are being spent on AI versions of British Sign Language. There are undoubtedly potential benefits. But equally there are real risks. An AI-generated translation that misleads a Deaf patient on drug dosage, for example, may be literally deadly.
The British Deaf Association therefore welcomes the BSL is not for sale report, which starkly and robustly explains the risks and the approach required to mitigate them.
The UK urgently needs cohesive and foundational principles to guide policymaking in this field and agreement on these principles must be led by the Deaf community.”
Download the report: BSL is not for Sale (PDF)