Shaping Europe’s digital future: EU Commission publishes European Data Strategy and Artificial Intelligence plans

The European Commission unveils its ideas and actions for a digital transformation that works for all, reflecting the best of Europe: open, fair, diverse, democratic and confident. It presents a European society powered by digital solutions that put people first, opens up new opportunities for businesses, and boosts the development of trustworthy technology to foster an open and democratic society and a vibrant and sustainable economy. Digital is a key enabler to fighting climate change and achieving the green transition. The European data strategy and the policy options to ensure the human-centric development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) are the first steps towards achieving these goals.

Over the next five years, the Commission will focus on three key objectives in digital:

  • Technology that works for people;
  • A fair and competitive economy; and
  • An open, democratic and sustainable society.

On  the issue of a fair competitive environment, which is a key element for many SIINDA members , the Communication on European Data Strategy outlines that “the high degree of market power resulting from the ‘data advantage’ can enable large players to set the rules on the platform and unilaterally impose conditions for access and use of data or, indeed, allow leveraging of such ‘power advantage’ when developing new services and expanding towards new markets.“

and that  “In addition, rules for providers of personal data apps or novel data intermediaries such as providers of personal data spaces could be considered, guaranteeing their role as a neutral broker“.

The White Paper on Artificial Intelligence is now open for public consultation until 19 May 2020. The Commission is also gathering feedback on its data strategy. In light of the input received, the Commission will take further action to support the development of trustworthy AI and the data economy

For more information, and to find all the relevant documents, click here.

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