Sign Language in the Era of Artificial Intelligence - A Turning Point for Deaf Rights
- Tim Scannell
- Aug 15
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 18
The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) has released a landmark report, “Sign Language in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.”It’s part warning, part roadmap showing how AI could either unlock new opportunities for Deaf communities or repeat centuries-old discrimination at a much larger scale.
Why This Matters
AI is rapidly finding its way into translation, avatars, recognition software, and accessibility tools. But sign languages are often labelled “low-resource languages” because there isn’t as much recorded data compared to spoken languages. This means:
AI tools may work poorly with sign languages.
Recordings of signers could be misused - copied, altered, or shared without consent.
Human interpreters might be replaced in situations where nuance and trust are critical.
Without proper safeguards, the same patterns of exclusion that Deaf communities have fought for decades could return — only faster.
Lessons from History – Milan 1880
In 1880, the Milan Conference banned sign languages in education - without consulting Deaf people. It took generations to recover from that decision.
The EUD warns: if governments, companies, and researchers make AI decisions without Deaf involvement, we risk repeating the same mistake this time, powered by algorithms that can spread change overnight.
EUD’s Three Practical Tools
Template Contract - Gives Deaf signers legal control over how their recorded signing is stored, shared, and used.
Ethical Framework - 15 principles to ensure AI is fair, safe, and co-created with Deaf people.
Book - An in-depth guide covering legal, ethical, and technological aspects of AI and sign language.
Core Concerns in the Report
Exclusion – Sign languages are missing from most AI datasets, so the tech often fails.
Misuse of Recordings – Facial expressions and signing styles can be copied without consent.
Top-down Development – Many AI projects focus on the technology first, not the needs of the community.
High-stakes Risks – Errors in legal, medical, or educational contexts can cause serious harm.
Ethical & Legal Principles
Always get informed consent for sign language data.
Never replace human interpreters in complex or sensitive contexts.
Protect the cultural and linguistic integrity of sign languages.
Ensure fair pay when recordings are used.
Be transparent about when AI is used and how.
Involve Deaf professionals at every stage of development.
Why This Matters for the UK
The UK may be outside the EU, but it still follows:
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The Council of Europe’s AI Convention.
This means the UK can adopt EUD’s framework or even create its own Deaf Digital Law to safeguard sign language in AI.
About EUD
Funded mainly by the EU, but independent.
Membership includes organisations from the EU27 plus UK, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Ukraine.
The British Deaf Association (BDA) represents the UK.
Any country inside or outside the EU can adopt the EUD framework as written, or tailor it to their needs.
The Crossroads We Face
AI could become a powerful ally for Deaf accessibility, enabling real-time interpretation, learning, and cultural preservation. Or it could repeat historic patterns of exclusion and discrimination, at a speed and scale never seen before.
The deciding factor will be whether Deaf people are at the table, leading the process with strong ethical and legal protections in place.
Read the full EUD report here: https://eud.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Sign-Language-in-the-Era-of-Artificial-Intelligence.pdf
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