Compliance

Ethical Impact Assessment

Pre-deployment assessment of ethical risks and benefits.

How the laws define this

At its core, an Ethical Impact Assessment is a structured evaluation of an AI system designed to identify social, ethical, legal, or fundamental rights risks and establish recommendations or mitigation measures to prevent harm. Where these sources diverge is in their required scope and operational application. The Code of Ethics for the Use of Artificial Intelligence treats it as a mandatory pre-deployment review centered on internal system controls, such as fairness, bias, transparency, explainability, data protection, and human oversight mechanisms. The Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence likewise focuses on pre-deployment analysis, but expands the scope outward to broader societal domains, explicitly targeting human rights, gender equality, and environmental sustainability. By contrast, AuroraAI (National AI programme for human‑centric public services) frames the assessment as structured guidance and deliverables used in pilot governance, applying it directly to shape design choices, accountability chains, and public communication alongside risk evaluation.

Synthesised from the 3 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.

How jurisdictions differ

What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first. Showing 2 of the 3 instruments that define this term; all are listed under Definitions below.

Jurisdiction	Instrument	Status	What is distinctive
UNESCO	Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence	In Force	This definition widens the scope by explicitly including analysis of effects on human rights, gender equality, and environmental sustainability.
Finland	AuroraAI (National AI programme for human‑centric public services)	Adopted	This definition adds emphasis on structured guidance, deliverables, mitigation recommendations, and integration into pilot documentation, governance, design, accountability, and public communication.

What it triggers

UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence sets out a methodology to analyze AI systems' effects before deployment.source
AuroraAI describes structured guidance and deliverables to evaluate risks as part of pilot documentation and governance.source

Definitions (3)

An Ethical Impact Assessment is a required pre-deployment evaluation that examines an AI system's purpose and benefits, potential risks to fundamental rights, fairness and bias considerations, transparency and explainability, data protection implications, and human oversight mechanisms, and documents risks and mitigation measures.

Code of Ethics for the Use of Artificial IntelligenceDefinition 1 of 3

Structured guidance and deliverables produced to evaluate the social, ethical and legal risks of AI systems and implementations, including recommendations to mitigate harms. AuroraAI used these assessments as part of pilot documentation and governance to inform design choices, accountability chains, and public communication.

AuroraAI (National AI programme for human‑centric public services)Definition 2 of 3

A methodology used to analyze how an AI system might affect human rights, gender equality, and environmental sustainability before deployment.

Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial IntelligenceDefinition 3 of 3

Not to be confused with

AI Impact Assessment

AI Impact Assessment focuses on documented risk and harms analysis before deployment, while Ethical Impact Assessment incorporates specific ethical dimensions like rights and sustainability.

Human Rights Impact Assessment

Human Rights Impact Assessment targets effects on fundamental rights, whereas Ethical Impact Assessment covers broader ethical areas including gender equality and environment.

Questions and answers

What does UNESCO say about Ethical Impact Assessments?

UNESCO defines it as a methodology to analyze AI effects on human rights, gender equality, and environmental sustainability before deployment. It is part of the first global standard on AI ethics adopted by 193 Member States.

How did Finland's AuroraAI use Ethical Impact Assessments?

AuroraAI used them as structured guidance and deliverables to evaluate social, ethical, and legal risks, informing design, accountability, and communication in pilots.

What key elements are covered in an Ethical Impact Assessment?

Elements include purpose, benefits, risks to rights, fairness, transparency, data protection, and human oversight, with documented risks and mitigations. Finland's approach adds social and legal risks with governance integration.