Civilian AI Exposes Governance Gaps in Post-Conflict Settings

Editorial analysis: For AI practitioners working on public-sector systems, deployments in fragile or post-conflict settings raise elevated risks around accountability, contestability, and public trust. According to a Just Security analysis, international norms have concentrated on military uses of AI, notably autonomous weapons systems and UNGA resolutions, while civilian AI used to administer rights and services has received less attention. Just Security cites the U.N. Secretary-General�s High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence finding in 2024 of a "systemic accountability deficit" in civilian deployments, and warns this gap is especially consequential where institutional capacity is weak and social trust is eroded. The article highlights civilian uses such as social protection, eligibility determination, and population classification as areas of concern.