About: ethics

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.

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.

Ethics of agricultural technologies under scrutiny

Responding to Commission President José Manuel Barroso's request, the EU executive's ethical advisory body will issue an opinion on modern agricultural technologies by the end of 2008. 

Commission revamps internal ethics code

EU Anti-Fraud Commissioner Siim Kallas has sought to clarify guidelines on preventing potential conflicts of interest which touch on the independence and impartiality of officials working in the EU executive. But the guidelines, seen by EURACTIV, have already been criticised as "far too weak" by ALTER-EU, a lobbying transparency group.

Experts tell EU to prop up ethics in nanomedicine

Nanotechnologies can open up promising areas in diagnosis and treatment but measures are needed to ensure that related medical products and devices are safe, scientific experts told the Commission.

EU’s new science ethics group too conservative ?

Some scientists have voiced concerns over the composition of the Commission's third independent advisory group on ethics in science.

EU science ethics group to study nanomedicine

The Commission's third independent advisory group on ethics in Science (2005-2009) will tackle, as its first task, the ethical issues of carrying out research on nanomedicine.

Social and environmental impacts of EU research under scrutiny

An impact assessment of the social and environmental impacts of European research shows that research has provided direct inputs into many European policies and raised many ethical questions.