Geneva, Switzerland — The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), the world’s first standalone international intergovernmental body dedicated to advancing inclusive and sustainable digital economies, officially launched its flagship policy tool — the DCO AI Ethics Evaluator — during two landmark global events: the AI for Good Summit 2025 and the WSIS+20 (World Summit on the Information Society) in Geneva.
The new tool represents a pivotal step in operationalizing the DCO Principles for Ethical AI, a framework endorsed earlier this year by all 16 DCO Member States. The AI Ethics Evaluator aims to support governments, organizations, developers, and innovators across public and private sectors in systematically assessing and mitigating ethical risks related to artificial intelligence — particularly those impacting human rights.
Designed as a comprehensive self-assessment resource, the Evaluator allows users to generate visual risk profiles and receive actionable recommendations based on six key dimensions of AI ethics. It helps uncover hidden vulnerabilities such as algorithmic bias, data misuse, and opaque decision-making systems — issues that increasingly threaten public trust and digital equity.
The launch was formally announced by Omar Saud Al-Omar, Minister of State for Communication Affairs of Kuwait and current Chairperson of the DCO Council, during a high-level session at WSIS+20. Al-Omar emphasized that the tool is built to help AI stakeholders understand their responsibilities regarding ethical deployment, while equipping them with strategies to mitigate adverse impacts on individuals and communities.
“The DCO AI Ethics Evaluator is more than a guideline — it’s a structured methodology,” Al-Omar stated. “It provides developers and users with a clear path to assess risks through a structured questionnaire that aligns with the DCO’s ethical framework.”
He also noted that the tool was developed following extensive DCO-led research and stakeholder consultations across multiple sectors, reflecting a global consensus on the need for robust AI governance.
Deemah AlYahya, Secretary-General of the DCO, reinforced the urgency of ethical AI in her keynote remarks:
“AI without ethics is not progress, it’s a threat — to human dignity, public trust, and the shared values of our societies,” she said.
“This tool is not just a checklist. It is a principled stand, built on global best practices and rooted in human rights.”
AlYahya underscored the tool’s inclusive design, noting it serves not only regulators, but also startups, civil society, and academic institutions seeking to align AI innovation with universal ethical standards.
“From fairness audits and privacy protections to transparency scoring and accountability mechanisms, the AI Ethics Evaluator serves as a compass — a tool to keep nations and innovators aligned with human-centered, rights-based AI,” she added. “Ethical AI is not optional. It’s urgent, it’s non-negotiable, and it’s a shared responsibility.”
Following the launch, Alaa Abdulaal, Chief of Digital Economy Intelligence at the DCO, gave a live demonstration of the tool.
“The future of AI isn’t just about how fast we innovate, but about the values we choose to encode,” he said. “The Evaluator transforms the DCO’s ethical principles into practical tools that guide developers and policymakers toward measurable accountability.”
The launch event brought together ministers, regulators, AI researchers, and civil society leaders from across the globe. The gathering marked a critical milestone in global digital diplomacy and policymaking, with multiple DCO Member States and private sector players expressing interest in piloting the Evaluator within their own AI governance systems.
The event concluded with a powerful call for cross-sector collaboration to ensure AI technologies are developed and deployed responsibly. With this launch, the DCO solidifies its leadership role in shaping the future of ethical AI and ensuring that emerging technologies uphold the values of equity, accountability, and sustainable development for all.
