The Malta Sociological Association (MSA) notes the public consultation on the Realignment of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which seeks to reposition Malta’s approach to AI by placing inclusivity and sustainability at its core. The MSA welcomes the explicit move away from a technology-first approach and the emphasis placed on ethical principles, public trust, and human oversight. In this context, the MSA strongly recommends the systematic incorporation of Social Impact Assessment (SIA) as a core component of the strategy’s design, implementation, and ongoing monitoring.
The International Association for Impact Assessment defines Social Impact Assessment as “the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positi
ve and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions”. Artificial intelligence strategies constitute profound social interventions that may reshape labour markets, public services, governance practices, social inequalities, and everyday decision-making. While AI presents significant opportunities for innovation and efficiency, it also raises critical questions related to bias and discrimination, accountability, transparency, trust, data governance, and the distribution of risks and benefits across different social groups.
An SIA is an interdisciplinary process, and should employ various methods, both quantitative and qualitative. Social impact assessments should not be one-off exercises, but ongoing processes which engage with various stakeholders and which report back so as to ensure effective policy processes. Embedding SIA within the National AI Strategy would strengthen its foundational principles, support adaptive governance, and help ensure that AI-driven innovation in Malta contributes to socially inclusive, equitable, and sustainable outcomes over time.
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