Commenting on today's vote in the European Parliament's Internal Market and Home Affairs Committees on the Parliament's position on the AI Act, shadow rapporteur in the Internal Market Committee and digital policy expert Svenja Hahn said:
"The Parliament's position on the AI Act bears a clear liberal handwriting and defies conservative surveillance wishes and left-wing fantasies of over-regulation. We have succeeded in finding a compromise that would regulate AI proportionately, protect civil rights, and boost innovation and the economy."
Hahn welcomes that the parliamentary position meets her call for a ban on biometric surveillance:
"We know facial recognition for surveillance from China, this application of technology has no place in a liberal democracy. It is a liberal win and a strong signal for the negotiations with the member states that Parliament stands up for civil rights and calls for a ban on biometric surveillance in public spaces."
Hahn particularly emphasises the Liberal Group's successes on innovation:
"With the Parliament's position on the AI Act, the EU can become the hotspot for research and innovation on artificial intelligence. For me, it was a priority that we significantly strengthen experimentation on AI in regulatory sandboxes. Following liberal pressure, Parliament is focusing on quality standards instead of bans or blanket high-risk classifications for general-purpose AI and generative AI like ChatGPT."
Hahn concludes:
"The parliamentary position meets liberal demands in the crucial points. The compromise follows neither conservative nor leftist aberrations. This way we can make the EU fit for the digital age, strengthen the economy and innovation and defend our liberal society."
The next step is the vote in plenary, probably in June