Prioritising Ethical Principles In the Disruptive Technologies
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A little over a year ago, the European Commission responded to the request to evaluate the implications for society with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence on an important scale, as advocated in a previous document COM/2020/67 final.
In that document, the European Commission extolled the capacity of artificial intelligence to make a fantastic contribution to value chains in every field of the economy and, indirectly, of society.
In this document celebrating the A.I., the Commission addresses only a few aspects of the society implications. Those of consumer rights and the safety of products placed on the market.
However, what the MEPs were asking, and with them part of society sensitive to human rights, respect for fundamental values, the rules of democracy and the enhancement of the human being, concerned the impact of artificial intelligence on ethical issues. which are fundamental not only for consumer and user point of view.
Certainly the European Commission, despite having discussion groups on values and ethics, does not have the means, the capacity and a specific purpose to examine such complex and demanding issues.
As many experts think and explained in today’s Conference organized by the Member of the European Parliament György Hölvényi and Jan Olbricht , Co-Chairmen of the Working Group entitled “Ethics in Science and New Technologies”, the theme has implications that go beyond individual responsibilities.
Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Agius, Head of Department of Moral Theology Faculty of Theology, University of Malta and Member of the European Group of Ethics in Science and New Technologies (EGE) on Ethics in Science and New Technologies explained that an holistic to understand all the implications, to develop regulations to protect human integrity and to open a permanent table of study and reflection on the progress of science and their implications. In reality they do not concern only man as a being, but also the environment in which he lives, because man is the environment in which he lives. Also MEP Roberta Metsola, from Malta, attended the meeting.
So let’s say that every threat of new technologies that arises from the evolution of scientific knowledge must be carefully foreseen as well as studied, to avoid having “victims” before reacting.
Any attack on integrity and respect for the environment considered natural for the survival of the human being must be foreseen, contained and prevented. The man and the environment in which he lives are the same thing. And therefore science must have an ethics, since in principle it is meant to help the growth of humanity.
At the end of this meeting, a formal commitment was proposed to support this dialogue, so that legislators can take into account the reflections during their parliamentary work.
- Read the Commission Communication on Shaping Europe’s digital future COM/2020/67 final
- Read the Commission White Paper On Artificial Intelligence – A European approach to excellence and trust COM/2020/65 final