The European Commission has created a new research unit to investigate the effects of algorithms used by prominent online platforms and search engines such as Facebook and Google.
On April 18, 2023, the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency (ECAT), a research organization, began its operations with the aim of helping the Commission identify and address potential issues that may arise from these platforms.
Like the design of the Las Setas building in Seville, algorithms are complex structures that shape our online experience.
This is what we are working on at the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency. We want to make the online experience safer for all.#DigitalEU
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) April 18, 2023
ECAT will be incorporated into the existing Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Union, which is responsible for researching various topics, including artificial intelligence (AI).
A team of data scientists, AI experts, social scientists, and legal experts will analyze and evaluate the AI-driven algorithms used by Big Tech firms. It is essential to conduct system inspections, scrutinize transparency reports, and assess the risk of self-assessments submitted by the designated companies to perform these tasks effectively.
In addition, ECAT will investigate the algorithms that power AI chatbots, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which some people believe will ultimately replace search engines. ECAT will examine a variety of complex algorithms used to create AI-based applications.
According to the Commission’s website, ECAT will conduct algorithmic accountability and transparency audits as required by the Digital Services Act (DSA), a set of regulations that will take effect on November 16, 2022, for the European Union.
Thierry Breton, the commissioner for the EU’s internal market, stated that ECAT would explore the inner workings of major online platforms and search engines to determine how their algorithms function and contribute to the dissemination of illegal and harmful content.
Nearly a dozen EU leaders signed an open letter dated April 16, 2023, calling for the “safe” development of AI. The signatories, who are parliamentarians, urged US President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to hold an AI summit and establish a set of guiding principles for the technology’s development, management, and implementation.
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