He Government considers “urgent” approve the new regulation on artificial intelligence (AI) in which the European Union works to address the risks of this technology, which would help avoid cases such as the manipulated photos in Almendralejo (Badajoz).
“These days in our country there is great concern regarding the issue of artificial intelligence (…) and that is why it seems essential to me that we approve this regulation, because it precisely guarantees, among other elements, that there is a watermark on images that have been manipulated with the use of artificial intelligence,” said the acting first vice president and head of Digital Transformation, Nadia Calviño.
Case of Almendralejo
Calviño thus referred, without explicitly mentioning it, to the case that occurred this week in Almendralejo (Badajoz), where photos of teenage girls were manipulated with artificial intelligence to make them appear naked and then distributed on networks, as the mothers of the minors have reported.
During an appearance to explain the priorities of the Spanish presidency in the digital area before the Industry committee of the European Parliament, the Spanish vice president defended that the artificial intelligence regulation negotiated by the EU could resolve this type of situation and assured that Spain wishes to approve it. during his rotating EU presidency, which ends on December 31.
World standard
In this sense, he noted that the Council (the Member States) has already agreed on its position and the European Parliament has shown itself willing to accelerate the technical meetings and negotiations between these two institutions and the European Commission; and assured that the Government is in “constant contact” with the European Parliament on the issue.
“The EU must be the first jurisdiction in the world with a legal regime on artificial intelligence that, like what happened with the general data protection regulation, becomes the global standard on the matter, thus guaranteeing that “This new technology responds to European fundamental rights,” said Calviño.
“Tremendously urgent”
The Spanish vice president insisted that it is “tremendously urgent” to have an adequate regulatory framework at the European level to guarantee that the risks entailed by these new technologies do not materialize, but “with a balanced regulatory approach that also promotes innovation and the deployment of these new technologies”, which can have a “positive impact” on productivity and growth.
In this effort to move forward with the negotiations, Calviño will hold a meeting with the parliamentary representatives responsible for this dossier after the parliamentary appearance, as indicated during the hearing in which the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Héctor Gómez, also participated.
Digital identity
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Beyond artificial intelligence, Calviño also highlighted the efforts of the Spanish presidency regarding cyber resilience regulations, which it wants to close “as soon as possible.” with the European Parliament, and the regulation on Gigabit infrastructure, on which he wants to have the mandate of the Twenty-seven before the end of the year and even, “if possible”, start talks with the MEPs.
Likewise, he showed his confidence in “closing the file” of the European digital identity regulation under the Spanish presidency, as well as receiving a mandate to be able to negotiate with the European Parliament the interoperability regulation and the cybersecurity package.