EU Moves to Regulate AI Systems... Some Express "Concerns Over Innovation Hindrance"

Protection of Individual Freedom and Rights

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] The European Union (EU) executive body, the European Commission, announced a new regulatory proposal on the 21st (local time) to ban artificial intelligence (AI) systems that threaten people's safety, livelihoods, and rights. This comprehensive regulation on AI is the first of its kind worldwide. While its purpose is to protect individual freedoms and rights, some concerns have been raised that it may hinder innovation.

According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and Nihon Keizai on the 21st (local time), the EU Commission announced a regulatory proposal to effectively introduce a prior review system for AI applications in critical infrastructure and facial recognition fields. Violations could result in fines of up to 30 million euros (approximately 40.3 billion KRW) or 6% of global turnover.

Additionally, ‘high-risk’ AI systems that could endanger life and health or infringe on fundamental rights must fulfill strict obligations, including undergoing appropriate risk assessments before entering the market. This also includes AI technologies used in transportation, examinations, recruitment, loan credit evaluations, and law enforcement.

The core purpose of the regulation is to ensure that AI does not undermine values that the EU holds important, such as freedom, democracy, and human rights.

In particular, it is pointed out that China is a background factor behind the EU’s enforcement of this regulation. China has been criticized for reportedly using AI to monitor the Uyghur ethnic minority.

Margrethe Vestager, EU Executive Vice President for Digital, stated, "Our regulation addresses human and societal risks related to specific uses of AI. This is an urgent issue, and with this regulation, the EU will lead the development of new global norms for trustworthy AI."

It is expected to take several years for this regulatory proposal to become law, as it must be approved by the European Parliament and member states.

Some voices express concerns that such regulation is premature and may hinder innovation. Nihon Keizai reported, "The EU’s regulation could influence policies in other countries, and such regulation focused on AI’s purposes may be ‘premature’ and could impede innovation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.