About: ethics
Gene editing requires ‘wide and inclusive’ societal debate, says ethics group
There is a need for a wide societal debate, including ethical reflection, over new gene-editing techniques, according to a new report from an advisory body for the European Commission, which was welcomed by industry players but accused of missing the mark by environmental campaign groups.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
Without the Right Partnerships, EU Legislation is Dead on Arrival
Despite major progress towards new mandatory frameworks aimed at tackling sustainability and ethical issues in supply chains coming into Europe, the EU’s ambitious legislation will see little impact if not backed up by deep and long-lasting partnerships with producing countries....
Ethics in the use of AI: Can regulators agree a standard approach?
The EU digital agenda for the 2019-2024 mandate is marked by a series of broad-ranging reforms, which are intended to guide Europe through the digital transition, as new technologies emerge. With Artificial Intelligence at the heart of the debate, the...
EU must ‘proactively’ tackle AI discrimination, Jourová says
The EU should not 'copy and paste' everyday racial discrimination and bias into algorithms in artificial intelligence, the EU's Vice-President for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová has said.
Artificial Intelligence: The time for ethics is over
Organising ethical debates has long been an efficient way for industry to delay and avoid hard regulation. Europe now needs strong, enforceable rights for its citizens, writes Green MEP Alexandra Geese.
MEPs chart path for a European approach to Artificial Intelligence
EU lawmakers debated the bloc's approach to regulating Artificial Intelligence technologies on Tuesday (12 May), in an effort to chart a path for how the EU will manage the onset of next-generation technologies.
EU’s Vestager calls on public sector to establish ‘particularly high’ AI standards
Artificial Intelligence technologies deployed in the public sector should be held to "particularly high standards when it comes to transparency and accountability," regardless of whether the technology is deemed 'high-risk' or not, the Commission's Vice-President for Digital Margrethe Vestager told MEPs on Monday (27 January).
Government advisor acting as Maltese ‘double agent’ creates new stir for France
After the scandal with the European Parliament's rejection of Sylvie Goulard as the French Commissioner, it is now the turn of Sandro Gozi, the EU adviser to France's prime minister, to be in the spotlight. The Italian had allegedly collaborated with the Maltese government while working for France. EURACTIV France reports.
Vestager the digital chief in name, but Goulard in practice
The EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager received broad support on Tuesday (10 September) following her nomination as the Commission's Executive Vice President for Digital.
Artificial Intelligence presents ‘black swan’ ethical issues, Commission report says
A series of 'critical concerns' in the development of Artificial Intelligence may have future unforeseen "high-impact" ramifications, a European Commission-led project has suggested.
MEPs back plans for artificial intelligence and robotics, but ethical concerns remain
MEPs in the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy backed plans on Monday evening (14 January) for a comprehensive policy framework on artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, weeks after ethical concerns in the field were highlighted in a EU report.
2019 LOOKAHEAD: Towards a ‘Techno-ethics’
2019 is likely to prove the dawn of a 'Techno-ethics' in which consumers will expect their rights to be respected in the digital realm as they are in everyday life and legislators will oblige tech giants to play by the same rules as the wider industry.
AI & Ethics: ‘Critical Concerns’ highlighted in Commission report
The European Commission's high-level group on Artificial Intelligence (AI) published their highly anticipated report on Artificial Intelligence and Ethics on Tuesday (18 December), drawing attention to issues related to areas such as identification, citizen scoring, and killer robots.
MEPs need a long hard look in the mirror
MEPs have been quick to point out the reforms needed to improve accountability in the Commission but have not turned the same critical eye on themselves, writes Myriam Douo.
Barroso says controversy over his new job shows EU is hostile to US
Former European Commission chief José Manuel Barroso today (6 October) said controversy over his appointment to a job at Goldman Sachs revealed anti-US hostility in Europe.
EU privacy watchdog planning international board on tech ethics
The EU's Data Protection Supervisor made an unexpected move today (11 September) by releasing an opinion on technology and ethics, aimed to fill in gaps in consumer protection rules left unaddressed by the ongoing EU privacy reforms.
A penny for your thoughts: MEPs and the revolving door
Losing your seat in the elections can be a devastating blow for an MEP, but there can be a silver lining, especially if you were a member of a prominent parliamentary committee, writes Vicky Cann. VideoPromoted content
This is Fur: European Parliament, 21-23 January
Years of campaigning against the fur industry have created prejudices and myths among Europeans. The European fur sector will therefore now more than ever pro-actively focus on being a transparent and open industry, ready with facts and reliable information.
Doubts surround corporate ethics on new ‘comply or explain’ regime
SPECIAL REPORT / Those for and against proposals launched this week to tighten corporate social responsibility reporting (CSR) are both suspicious of its “comply or explain” enforcement regime.
Regner: European elections to test candidates’ true ethical colours
The European elections in 2014 will be the real testing ground on parliamentary openness and ethics, said centre-left MEP Evelyn Regner, a year after a new code of conduct entered into force following a cash-for-influence case.
Commission’s draft ethics code under fire
Draft rules governing the behaviour of EU commissioners have come under fire from transparency groups, which accused the European Commission of not doing enough to address "revolving door" issues. But the Commission said its critics had failed to take into account "the full picture".
Biomedical research faced with ‘bottleneck’
The development of new drugs is slowing to a temporary standstill, according to medical research experts, who say harmonising Europe's fragmented network of biobanks could help unclog the bottleneck.
Obama team unveils ‘far-reaching’ lobbying ethics rules
Barack Obama has pledged "to curb the influence of lobbyists" on Washington policymaking, co-chair of the US President-elect's transition team John Podesta announced on 11 November, mirroring a similar transparency drive currently underway in the EU institutions.