HDRI Hosts “Beyond the Algorithm”: Young People Draft Human-Centred Tech Policies

Paris, 29 October 2026

On 28 October 2026, the Human Development Research Initiative (HDRI) hosted Beyond the Algorithm: Drafting Human-Centred Tech Policies, an online policy hackathon that brought young people together to tackle some of the most pressing questions of digital transformation.

Working in small teams, participants moved beyond discussing technology to actively shaping how it should be governed. Each group took on a real-world challenge where artificial intelligence meets human rights, and developed concrete policy recommendations that set out what should change and who should be responsible. The teams then presented their proposals and received feedback from guest expert Samuel Goodger, Policy Analyst at the European Policy Centre (EPC).

Expert reflection

Reflecting on the proposals, Samuel Goodger stressed that the central question in AI governance is not whether we canautomate decisions, but whether we should. He described human-in-the-loop systems as democratic necessities rather than optional safeguards. He also argued that citizens must be able to understand, challenge and appeal automated decisions affecting their lives. Without strict accountability, he warned, we risk systems where no one is responsible when AI fails. While the EU AI Act provides a framework, he noted, its implementation will determine whether these technologies serve human dignity or undermine it.

A participant’s perspective

One participant reflected that AI systems can reproduce the very inequalities they claim to solve, unless justice is built in from the start. From gender bias in hiring algorithms to the environmental cost of data centres, these are not merely technical problems but human rights challenges that require political will and regulatory courage. As the generation that will live with these systems for decades, young people have both the urgency and the responsibility to demand better. Human-centred AI, they concluded, must become the standard rather than an aspiration.

Key policy recommendations

Gender equity: addressing bias in AI-driven recruitment

• Remove gender-identifiable information from initial applications processed by AI, with human oversight at later stages to support diversity commitments.

• Require independent audits of training data and regular bias testing of recruitment systems.

• Oblige employers to tell applicants when AI is used, explain how decisions are made, and guarantee human review.

Environment: sustainability and accountability in AI infrastructure

• Introduce mandatory public reporting on the energy use, water consumption, carbon footprint and energy sources of AI systems and data centres.

• Require data centres to assess and disclose their impact on local communities, including water resources and grid capacity.

• Develop standardised metrics to compare the environmental footprint of AI models, backed by incentives for sustainable practices.

Rule of law: human rights safeguards in automated public services

• Enshrine meaningful human oversight in law, and prohibit full automation in high-stakes areas such as social welfare, immigration, criminal justice and healthcare.

• Guarantee transparency, explainability and a clear right to appeal automated decisions before a human decision-maker.

• Assign legal responsibility for AI failures to identifiable public actors, with regular human rights audits and training for public servants.

Across all three areas, participants shared a common conviction: AI governance must put transparency, accountability and fundamental rights first. Achieving this will take collaboration between governments, technology developers, civil society and affected communities.

What’s next

The hackathon builds on HDRI’s flagship programme, Youth-Led Monitoring for a Resilient Digital France (YLM-RDF), which supports young people to monitor digital policy and bring their perspectives directly to decision-makers. The recommendations developed during the hackathon will inform HDRI’s ongoing advocacy on inclusive and rights-based digital governance.

HDRI warmly thanks Samuel Goodger and the European Policy Centre for their valuable contribution, and all the participants for their energy, creativity and commitment.

🔗 Learn more about YLM-RDF: hdevri.org/ylm-rdf

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