Dear AI-ACT co-rapporteur,
Dear Mr Tudorache, Member of the European Parliament,

We, the undersigned, Guy T’hooft and Joël De Decker, would like to thank you for the very clear answers you provided during the conference «Bridging the Gap: Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Human Values», held on 15 November 2023 at the European Parliament Library.

As the time available to participants is very short, we are writing to provide you with the full text of our speech. We would be grateful for any comments you may have.

Statement by the European Association for Free Thought (AEPL)

In late 2019, the AEPL wrote a letter to the President of the European Commission, stating, amongst other things:
«Your European vision for artificial intelligence, which prioritises ethics, has captured our full attention….. We fully support the objectives set out in the «Ethical Guidelines for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence» published in spring 2020, following the work of the high-level expert group set up by the European Commission.»

However, we are concerned about a recent publication by an interest group putting forward the following argument: «Europe will be left behind if it focuses on ethics and fails to keep pace with the development of AI». The AEPL considers that this argument does not serve the interests of European citizens who are concerned about their own ethical values, in particular human rights.

The European vision of «ethics by design» endorses an ex ante approach that enables ethical objectives to be set before research and technological development begins, rather than after the event.

Within the legislative framework for artificial intelligence, Europe must build on its achievements in the field of personal data protection: it must set an exemplary standard for the rest of the world.

We note that Parliament is paying particular attention to the issue of facial recognition, which it wishes to ban outright. However, in this case, as with other applications of artificial intelligence, it is not the algorithm itself that is dangerous, but the way in which it is used.

Chinese-style facial recognition, with its social labelling, should be completely banned in the EU as it runs counter to its values. However, facial recognition on our cameras, which triggers the shutter when a photo is taken, has nothing to do with the values of the European Union.

Finally, we would like to express our strong support for the following three points:

1) Artificial intelligence is characterised by the fact that, by its very nature, it can always make mistakes, hence the ethical issues raised by the use of AI. It is therefore important that the various versions of the AI-ACT are continually updated to take account of rapid technological changes in the field of AI and shifts in public opinion.

2) The worst possible outcome would be a failure to reach an interinstitutional agreement, which would lead to the AI-ACT being scrapped. European citizens are expecting a social pact that addresses their fears – whether well-founded or imagined – regarding artificial intelligence.

3) As you quite rightly pointed out, the education of «the man in the loop» is of paramount importance.

We are happy to provide any further information you may require.

Yours faithfully, Mr President.

 

Joël DE DECKER Guy T'HOOFT

AEPL Director; AEPL Chair

Chair of the AEPL’s AI Group