Artificial Intelligence
In a leaked document, the Irish Presidency proposes to EU Member States that the interest of OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta and SpaceX to make profits should take precedence over the fundamental right to data protection. Use of personal data “in the context of AI” should automatically be lawful. There seems to be wide informal agreement by many Member States. In particular, Big Tech would be able to use all personal data collected over the past decades with virtually no restrictions, as long as this happens “in the context” of AI. Schrems: “
Under these proposals, the profits of AI companies would trump European’s fundamental right to privacy. This is nothing but a digital expropriation of Europeans.”
All this is happening despite the key figures of AI corporations actively warn about the enormous risks associated with their own products.
Politico Article with initially leaked documents (paywalled)
Leaked extreme proposal by the Irish Presidency (PDF)
Proposal from Germany for the massive liberalization of AI companies (PDF)
Overview page of the European Commission on the “Digital Omnibus”
Last limits fall: Profits of AI companies trump data protection?
As part of the Digital Omnibus Proposal, the European Commission claimed to adopt only minor simplifications for EU companies, whilst explicitly claiming to maintain a “high level of protection” for Europeans. As the changes were intended to be minimal, a “fast-track procedure” was chosen - without any fundamental rights assessment and without directly involving the European expert group on data protection.
Article 88c proposed by the European Commission (now Article 88bis in the Council document) intends to liberate the use of personal data for AI. The proposal is currently with the Council, where the Irish Presidency currently holds the reins. Ireland serves as the EU headquarter for the majority of the US and China’s AI corporations.
With support of Germany and other EU
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