Islamic Ethical Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence and Digital Surveillance: Principles, Challenges, and Policy Recommendations

Abstract

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital surveillance systems into the social structures has generated serious ethical, legal, and social anxieties. Although the existing AI ethics paradigms are mostly based on Western philosophical and regulatory models, there is a strong necessity to examine these trends through the prism of the Islamic ethic. The paper explores the Islamic perspective of AI and digital surveillance in terms of its principles, challenges, and implications on policy. The paper, based on the classical books of Islam, the Quran, Hadith and classical jurisprudence, reveals that such beliefs as the preservation of human dignity (كرامة الإنسان), justice (العدل), privacy (السِّرّ), and accountability (المسؤولية) are considered to be the main principles to govern AI practices. This analyzes the academic discussion of AI ethics, bias, fairness, and algorithmic responsibility to place these concepts in the context of the modern technological environment. The article also examines policy proposals of normative character with a focus on how AI governance can be adjusted to conform to the standards of Objectives of Shariah (مقاصد الشريعة) and universal human rights. It highlights the dangers of discrimination, privacy, and socio-economic disparities arising out of AI and surveillance systems and suggests ethically-based mechanisms to counter or reduce it. The analysis of how Islamic ethics can be applied to the global AI ethics discussion places an emphasis on the possibility of culturally sensitive and spiritually sensitised paradigms that can supplement the existing governance paradigms. Finally, the study contributes to theoretical and practical knowledge on AI ethics, proposing the creation of policy and technological solutions to support human dignity and justice and social welfare in the digital era.