GDPR Link With AI Expected to Be Contentious, EU Lawmaker Says

The nexus between AI and EU privacy law could be more controversial than facial recognition as the European Commission-proposed Artificial Intelligence Act (see 2104210003) moves through the European Parliament, lawmaker Axel Voss said at a Tuesday briefing. Voss, of the European People's Party and Germany, wrote the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age's response to the legislative proposal. He acknowledged facial recognition is contentious, saying he believes banning facial recognition outright is a "stupid idea" and it's better to regulate and set strong safeguards. Asked if facial recognition is likely to be the stickiest issue during negotiations, Voss told us the link between AI and the EU general data protection act will probably be more controversial. No one wants to touch the GDPR, but Europe is looking for a certain quality of algorithms -- gender-balanced and nonbiased -- that will rely on massive use of personal data: "We can't win the digital competition without data," which must be secured and safeguarded. Voss wants a uniform interpretation of the GDPR and amending provisions that are outdated for AI, such as the requirement for minimizing use of personal data. The report also urges building a comprehensive AI infrastructure maximized for 5G and 6G. Europe has fallen behind the U.S. and China in the "winner takes most" economy and can't afford to fail on AI, Voss said. The report is "an urgent call for action" to ensure that the EU becomes a global leader.