Legal Affairs MEPs quizz Commission Vice-President Henna Virkkunen
The Executive Vice-President responsible for tech sovereignty, security and democracy spoke to MEPs on Wednesday about the European Commission’s plans on artificial intelligence.
In her first debate with the Executive Vice-President and Commissioner for tech sovereignty, security and democracy Henna Virkkunen stressed the need to develop the necessary infrastructure for wider artificial intelligence (AI) deployment in the EU. She mentioned plans for investment in supercomputers, giga factories and data centres, including in partnership with the private sector. EU companies and researchers will gain access to these facilities to build up the EU’s AI capacities and spur innovation to close innovation gaps and improve EU competiveness.
Withdrawal of the AI liability directive
MEPs asked the Commissioner to explain the removal from the Commission work programme of the proposal for an AI liability directive, to protect people seeking compensation for damage caused by high-risk AI, and of the standard essential patents proposal, intended to protect key technologies such as Wi-Fi and 5G. MEPs confirmed their interest in continuing work on the amended proposals. Ms Virkkunen referred to the need to ensure there are no overlaps with the Product Liability Directive and the AI Act, while making the EU environment simpler and easier for EU businesses to navigate. She also stressed her preference for legislating using regulations, as opposed to directives, which member states often transpose in different ways, causing further fragmentation of the single market.
Protection of copyright
MEPs also questioned Ms Virkkunen about the Commission’s plans to improve strategic autonomy, build innovation capabilities, protect sensitive defence data, ensure protection of copyright in the context of AI use, and protect media and election processes. In response, Virkkunen highlighted the new geopolitical context, which makes it necessary for the EU to innovate not only in the context of AI, but also in the area of cloud services and semi-conductors. The EU must educate its workforce and ensure that its legal environment is ready to deal with existing and upcoming challenges, she said. She particularly stressed the need to protect copyright and the creative sector, ensuring that authors receive fair remuneration and that their ideas are protected, while the environment remains welcoming of innovation and creative ideas.