Sarah Chander, Senior Policy Advisor, European Digital Rights
Sarah leads EDRi's policy work on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and specifically the EU’s AI Regulation. She also works on issues of discrimination in a digital context, migration-related technologies, and works on a process of decolonising the digital rights field alongside the Digital Freedom Fund (DFF). She looks to make links between the digital and other social justice movements. Sarah has experience in racial and social justice and previously worked at the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) on a wide range of topics.
In particular, Sarah oversees EDRi’s policy work on the EU’s AI Regulation and artificial intelligence (AI). Alongside the Digital Freedom Fund (DFF), she also works on issues of discrimination in a digital environment, technology connected to migration, and the process of decolonizing the field of digital rights. Her goal is to draw connections between previous social justice movements and the digital space. Sarah has worked with the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) before, where she gained expertise in a variety of areas such as intersectional justice, state racism, racial profiling, anti-discrimination legislation and policy, and police brutality. She participated actively in campaigns opposing the imprisonment of immigrants.
2023
The EU aims to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) as part of its digital strategy in order to improve the environment for the advancement and application of this cutting-edge technology. Numerous advantages, including improved healthcare, cleaner and safer transportation, more effective manufacturing, and more affordable and sustainable energy, may be brought about by AI.
The first AI regulatory framework in the EU was suggested by the European Commission. It claims that AI systems that have a variety of uses are analyzed and categorized based on the danger they provide to consumers. There will be varying degrees of regulation depending on the danger levels. These will be the first AI regulations in history if they are accepted.
Parliament’s priority is to make sure that AI systems used in the EU are safe, transparent, traceable, non-discriminatory and environmentally friendly. AI systems should be overseen by people, rather than by automation, to prevent harmful outcomes. Parliament also wants to establish a technology-neutral, uniform definition for AI that could be applied to future AI systems.
On 14 June 2023, MEPs adopted Parliaments negotiating position on the AI Act. The talks will now begin with EU countries in the Council on the final form of the law. The aim is to reach an agreement by the end of this year.
With discussion on AI and law enforcement going south, key figures like @IoanDragosT must stay strong on prohibitions against discriminatory + mass surveillance.
RBI, predictive policing, secrecy on the "public" database for police/migration – MEPs cant give up now. https://t.co/mr2avk6Fbu
It's looking like the predictive policing prohibition the EU is proposing on the #AIAct will be fully watered down
Whilst civil society wanted a complete ban on the most discriminatory person/place based predpol, Council is suggesting to accept only a narrow, meaningless ban. https://t.co/R3TicKbWGf
