The EU faces a significant tech challenge.
Countries like France, Germany, and Italy oppose a proposed artificial intelligence (AI) legislation, aimed at regulating foundational AI models.
Amnesty International's Secretary-General Agnes Callamard urged France, Germany, and Italy to reconsider their stance and support the adoption of the AI Act. Callamard also addressed the importance of this act for safeguarding fundamental rights and addressing the risks posed by AI technologies.
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Callamard criticized the notion that innovation and regulation are mutually exclusive, a perspective often promoted by major tech companies to avoid stringent regulations.
She argued that this "false dichotomy" has long been used to escape accountability and that the current situation highlights the disproportionate influence these companies have in shaping global AI regulations.
The AI Act, as proposed by the EU, is not just another piece of legislation; it represents a pioneering effort to create a comprehensive framework for AI governance.
This act aims to protect fundamental human rights and prevent AI technologies from exacerbating discrimination, particularly in sensitive areas like mass surveillance, policing, and welfare distribution.
The potential impact on marginalized groups, including migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, is a primary concern.
Callamard's statement comes at a crucial juncture, as unregulated AI systems are increasingly employed by states for various purposes, from welfare assessment to crime prediction.
The lack of oversight in these applications can lead to significant human rights violations and discrimination.
The AI Act seeks to address these issues by introducing measures for public transparency and accountability, especially in the use of AI by police, migration, and national security authorities.
She emphasized the urgency of embedding crucial human rights protections into law, stressing the need for EU lawmakers to finalize the act before the end of the current EU mandate in 2024.
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