European Parliament: Resolutions on Artificial intelligence adopted

IRIS 2021-6:1/8

Francisco Javier Cabrera Blázquez

European Audiovisual Observatory

On 19 May 2021, the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on Artificial intelligence in education, culture and the audiovisual sector. The resolution calls to ensure that AI technologies are trained in a way that prevents gender, social or cultural bias and protects diversity. Addressing the different aspects of AI technology use in education, the resolution stresses that teachers must always be able to correct decisions taken by the AI’s, especially regarding student selection and evaluation. At the same time, it highlights the need to enhance digital skills across Europe and train teachers to prepare for AI technology use in education.

To prevent algorithm-based content recommendations from negatively affecting the EU’s cultural and linguistic diversity, MEPs ask for specific indicators to be developed to measure diversity and ensure that European works are being promoted. The Commission must establish a clear ethical framework for how AI technologies are used in EU media to ensure people have access to culturally and linguistically diverse content. Such a framework should also address the misuse of AI to disseminate fake news and disinformation. The use of biased data that reflect already existing gender inequality or discrimination should be prevented when training AI. Instead, inclusive and ethical data sets must be developed, with the help of stakeholders and civil society, to be used during the “deep learning” process.

In a separate resolution adopted on 20 May 2021, Parliament reiterated the need for common EU rules on accessible and human-centric technology. In it, Parliament underlined the need for strong support for digital innovation. EU lawmakers must guarantee any accompanying common legislation endorses trustworthy, fair, accessible and human-centric technology, for example, with an adequate degree of human control over algorithmic decision-making. European SMEs need the right amount of support to benefit from new technologies, be it through testing facilities, better access to data, easier regulatory requirements or funding.

The resolution argues that AI solutions could diminish existing barriers and reduce the fragmentation of the internal market, support European digital economy and its competitiveness, contributing also to safety, security, education, healthcare, transport and the environment. At the same time, MEPs add that a clear legal framework for AI is a prerequisite for establishing trust in the technology, to avoid discrimination and to make sure the fundamental rights of Europeans are sufficiently protected.