After intensive negotiations and numerous debates, the European Parliament passed the AI Act, a comprehensive set of rules for dealing with artificial intelligence (AI), with a large majority. This is a historic milestone in the regulation of AI technologies, but also a compromise that is not without criticism. The AI Act aims to ban certain applications of AI that are deemed to pose “unacceptable risk,” including mass biometric surveillance and social scoring. However, numerous exceptions, particularly for law enforcement agencies, leave room for controversy and concerns about the protection of fundamental rights and freedom of citizens.
The core elements of the AI Act
At the heart of the AI Act is the ban on AI applications that pose unacceptable risks to society. Despite the seemingly strict regulation, exemptions allow the use of biometric surveillance technologies in certain circumstances. While these measures aim to increase security and prosecute suspects more effectively, they also raise concerns about the potential for abuse and erosion of privacy. The European Parliament originally sought a complete ban on mass biometric surveillance, but had to make concessions to reach consensus.
The debate about freedom and security
The possibility of allowing mass biometric surveillance under certain conditions has sparked a wave of criticism from privacy organizations and civil rights groups. They argue that such a surveillance infrastructure promotes a feeling of constant control and hinders the exercise of civil liberties. The concerns relate in particular to the numerous exemptions provided for by the law and the possible creation of a dystopian surveillance state.
Economic concerns and adjustments
In addition to concerns about civil rights and data protection, there is also criticism from business, especially from start-ups and the technology industry, who fear over-regulation. The EU has tried to address these concerns by introducing measures such as access to supercomputer interfaces and the creation of AI sandboxes to encourage innovation without compromising security. Despite these efforts, concerns remain that strict regulation could hinder the development and deployment of AI in Europe.
Questions and answers about the AI Act:
Question 1: What are the main objectives of the AI Act?
Answer 1: The main objectives of the AI Act are to regulate the use of AI systems in order to minimize risks, protect the security and fundamental rights of citizens, while promoting innovation and competitiveness in the EU.
Question 2: What does the ban on “unacceptable risk” mean specifically?
Answer 2: The ban applies to AI applications that are considered a serious threat to security, fundamental rights or democratic values, such as: B. biometric mass surveillance and social scoring.
Question 3: Why is there criticism of the AI law?
Answer 3: The criticism arises from the numerous exceptions that allow the use of biometric mass surveillance under certain circumstances and from the fear that these regulations could pave the way to a surveillance state.
Question 4: How does the AI Act promote innovation?
Answer 4: By providing resources such as access to supercomputers, setting up AI sandboxes and supporting start-ups so they can experiment and develop without breaking laws.
Question 5: What are the next steps after the AI law is passed?
Answer 5: The Regulation will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU, with the various provisions being gradually implemented over a period of up to 36 months.
Conclusion
The adoption of the AI law is a crucial step towards regulating artificial intelligence in Europe. It reflects the desire to maximize the benefits of using AI while minimizing the risks and protecting fundamental rights. Despite the compromises reached, there remains a need for continued review and adaptation of legislation to reflect both technological advances and changing societal norms. In this dynamic area, it is essential that all stakeholders - from legislators to companies to citizens - work together to find a balance between innovation, security and freedom.
We invite you to subscribe to the Mimikama newsletter under Newsletter and register for our online lectures and workshops under Online Lecture .
Source: t-online.de ; derstandard.at
Also read:
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )