While I appreciate the EU’s efforts, we need to understand that a fragmented regional framework alone cannot sufficiently protect humanity. The impact of an AI algorithm developed outside the EU can still affect the EU and its citizens. Therefore, there is a serious need for international standards in AI regulation. The EU AI Act could serve as a valuable benchmark for establishing these standards.
Specifically, the following features of the EU AI Act can provide guidance and inspiration to the global community
The rules adopt a risk-based approach, requiring providers and users of AI systems to comply with obligations based on the level of risk posed by the AI. This safeguards that AI systems with an unacceptable level of risk to people’s safety are strictly prohibited.
The EU amended the regulations to include explicit bans on intrusive and discriminatory uses of AI systems. These prohibitions cover various practices, including
- Real-time remote biometric identification systems in publicly accessible spaces
- Post-remote biometric identification systems (with exceptions for law enforcement in the prosecution of serious crimes and under judicial authorization)
- Biometric categorization systems based on sensitive characteristics (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, citizenship status, religion, political orientation)
- Predictive policing systems relying on profiling, location, or past criminal behavior
- Emotion recognition systems employed in law enforcement, border management, workplace, and educational institutions, and
- Indiscriminate scraping of biometric data from social media or CCTV footage for the creation of facial recognition databases, violates human rights and privacy.
If you are interested to read more about my proposal for the universal framework AI governance, please click the following link A Call for a Global Framework for Responsible AI
