Attend the closing seminar of the Equal AI project on 17 September 2026, which will focus on artificial intelligence and non-discrimination

The Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, in collaboration with its European partners, is organising an international event entitled ‘Beyond the Algorithm: AI and Equality in Europe’ seminar in Brussels on 17 September 2026. You can follow the event remotely.

The seminar is the closing event of the Equal AI project. The aim of the project has been to strengthen the capacity of equality bodies to monitor compliance with the prohibition of discrimination in the use of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making in public administration. The project is co-funded by the European Commission and the Council of Europe.

Artificial intelligence and automated decision-making are being used increasingly extensively in public administration. They can improve the efficiency and accessibility of services, but at the same time their use entails risks such as discrimination, a lack of transparency in decision-making and limited opportunities to seek legal redress. Preventing these risks requires appropriate impact assessments and protective measures to be put in place as early as the design and implementation stages of the systems.

The final seminar will bring together equality bodies, other supervisory authorities and representatives of the public sector, as well as key stakeholders, to discuss how the project’s findings can be translated into permanent practices.

What: Closing event of the Equal AI project
When: 17 September 2026 10.30 a.m.–5.30 p.m. (Finnish time)
Where: Online, remotely
Language: The event will be held in English and will include international sign language interpreting. The seminar will be streamed online.
Registration: By 15 September 2026 at the latest.
Further information: Read more about this on the Council of European website: Beyond the algorithm: AI and equality in Europe - Inclusion and anti-discrimination

The speakers and panellists from Finland at the seminar will be:

  • Anna-Kaisa Ikonen, Minister for Local and Regional Government, responsible for the digitalisation of public administration

  • Susanna Lindroos-Hovinheimo, Deputy Parliamentary Ombudsman

  • Jarkko Levasma, Director General, Public Sector ICT at the Ministry of Finance of Finland

  • Jarmo Riikonen, Head of Data Economy unit, Traficom

  • Tiina Valonen, Head of Unit at the Office of the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman

Further information on the project:

The Equal AI project (Upholding equality and non-discrimination by Equality Bodies regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence in Public Administrations) is funded by the European Commission’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and also receives support from the Council of Europe. The two-year project has been carried out in collaboration with the Council of Europe, the Finnish Non-Discrimination Ombudsman, the Belgian equality body UNIA, and the Portuguese Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (CIG).

The project has developed practical tools specifically for use by equality bodies. The outcomes have included training programmes organised in Finland in 2025 and 2026, recommendations for equality and human rights bodies, and a handbook-style assessment method for identifying and addressing discrimination issues relating to artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems.

You can read about the Equal AI project and the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman’s views on the subject in, for example, Report by the Non-Discrimination Ombudsman to the Parliament 2026.

Further information:

Tiina Valonen, Senior Specialist, Head of Unit, [email protected]

21.08.2026