Artificial Intelligence
22 october 2020
On October 21, 2020, the Presidency of the Council issued presidency conclusions on the charter of fundamental rights in the context of artificial intelligence and digital change.
The Presidency pointed out that digital technologies, including AI, are essential for European digital sovereignty, security, innovations and economic development and can contribute significantly to the protection and promotion of fundamental rights and democracy and the rule of law. To be digitally sovereign, the EU must build a truly digital single market, reinforce its ability to define its own rules, to make autonomous technological choices, and to develop and deploy strategicdigital capacities and infrastructure.
However, while digital technologies, including AI, present increasing opportunities and benefits, their design, development, deployment, and misuse may also entail risks to fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law. Therefore, efforts are necessary to ensure that the respect for fundamental rights as enshrined in the EU Charter remains guaranteed.
The Presidency underscored that the design, development, deployment and use of AI must fully respect fundamental rights and existing legal rules. The same degree of protection should be applied in the digital and in the physical world. In addition, the Presidency emphasised that, under Article 52(1) of the Charter, any limitation on the exercise of the rights and freedoms laid down by the Charter may only be made if it is necessary and genuinely satisfies an objective of general interest recognised by the EU or the need to protect the rights and freedoms of others, subject to the principle of proportionality, and must be provided for by law and respect the essence of the fundamental rights and freedoms.
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