The EU AI Act, a proposed regulation of general-purpose AI and foundational models like ChatGPT, is expected to be the world’s first rules on Artificial Intelligence. Kick-started by the European Commission in April 2021, earlier this month MEPs have adopted Parliaments negotiating position on the Act. Talks will now begin with EU countries in the Council on the final version of the law. Adopting a risk-based approach to AI, the AI Act bans, among others, real-time and remote biometric identification systems, such as facial recognition.
The Chair Artificial Intelligence and Democracy at the School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute, invites everyone interested to a webinar to take stock of the AI Act, with a focus on facial recognition technology. The webinar will feature Mariolein Lanzig (philosopher of technology, University of Amsterdam and Bits of Freedom) and Laura Carrer (researcher and journalist, Hermes Center for Transparency and Digital Human Rights) in conversation with Stefania Milan (European University Institute). Why should we worry about facial recognition technology, and will the AI Act change things for real? The event will be held on Zoom, please register at the link below.
Marjolein Lanzing is Assistant Professor Philosophy of Technology at the University of Amsterdam. Previously, she worked on the Googlization of Health as a post-doc of the ERC project 'Digital Good' (PI Tamar Sharon) at the Interdisciplinary Hub for Security, Privacy and Data Governance (Radboud University). She finished her PhD-research 'The Transparent Self': A Normative Investigation of Changing Selves and Relationships in the Age of the Quantified Self at the 4TU Center for Ethics and Technology (University of Technology Eindhoven). Marjolein studies the ethical and political concerns related to new technologies, in particular concerns regarding privacy and surveillance (autonomy, discrimination, manipulation and commodification), and what they mean for the way we understand ourselves and our social relationships.
Laura Carrer is a freelance journalist. She write about state surveillance, technology at the intersection with human rights and the city. She writes for numerous local and national media outlets in Italy such as Domani, Wired Italy, IrpiMedia, FQ Millennium.
Stefania Milan (stefaniamilan.net) works at the intersection of participation, technology, and governance, with emphasis on infrastructure and agency. She is Professor of Critical Data Studies at the University of Amsterdam, affiliated with the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society (Harvard University) and the School of Transnational Governance (European University Institute).