Responding to news that France, Germany and Italy, are putting adoption of the landmark AI Act at risk due to their opposition to regulate foundation models, Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Agnes Callamard said:
“The EU has an opportunity to demonstrate international leadership by adopting this robust, landmark regulation aimed at protecting fundamental rights and mitigating the multiple risks of AI technologies. The EU must not falter at this final hurdle, and EU Member States, such as France, Germany and Italy, must not undermine the AI Act by bowing to the tech industry’s claims that adoption of the AI Act will lead to heavy-handed regulation that would curb innovation.
“Let us not forget that ‘innovation versus regulation’ is a false dichotomy that has for years been peddled by tech companies to evade meaningful accountability and binding regulation. This underscores, yet again, the concentration of power of a handful of tech companies who seek to set the terms of the world’s first comprehensive AI rulebook.
“It is well documented how AI technologies magnify human rights harms and discrimination when used for mass surveillance, policing, welfare distribution and at borders. Marginalized groups, including migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are impacted and targeted the most.
Let us not forget that ‘innovation versus regulation’ is a false dichotomy that has for years been peddled by tech companies to evade meaningful accountability and binding regulation. This underscores, yet again, the concentration of power of a handful of tech companies who seek to set the terms of the world’s first comprehensive AI rulebook.
Agnes Callamard, Secretary General
“As we speak, unregulated AI systems are being used by states to assess welfare claims, monitor public spaces, or determine someone’s likelihood of committing a crime. EU member states must not squander this opportunity to secure a robust piece of legislation that would safeguard human rights, including by putting an end to the use and export of mass and discriminatory surveillance technologies such as facial recognition, and making sure that AI used by the police, migration, and national security authorities is subject to strict public transparency and accountability measures.
“It is imperative that France, Germany and Italy stop delaying the negotiations process, and that EU lawmakers focus on making sure crucial human rights protections are coded in law before the end of the current EU mandate in 2024.”
Background:
Amnesty International, as part of a coalition of civil society organizations led by the European Digital Rights Network (EDRi), has been calling for EU artificial intelligence regulation that protects and promotes human rights, including rights of people on the move.
