The lack of confidence of European consumers in artificial intelligence (AI) shows the need for clear and appropriate rules. This is the view of the European Consumers’ Organisation (BEUC), which on Monday 7 September published an opinion survey of 11,500 people.
This survey, carried out by a third party company between November and December 2019, investigates how AI is perceived in nine Member States (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden).
It shows that, while consumers recognise the benefits of AI, particularly in terms of real-time routing for motorists (78%), they also have many fears, particularly about intrusive technologies. For voice recognition, for example, 40% in Sweden, 68% in Germany and 71% in Belgium think that their data will not be protected.
Similarly, 51% of respondents in Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Spain believe that AI will lead to unfair discrimination on the basis of individual characteristics or social categories. It is 37% in Denmark, France, Germany and Sweden.
More generally, only about one-fifth of the respondents felt that the current rules protect them from potential dangers posed by AI. “Current consumer protection, privacy and liability rules are simply not fit for purpose to protect consumers from the negative consequences of AI”, said Monique Goyens, BEUC’s Director-General.
Legislation in 2021
It should be recalled that the European Commission plans to present new rules on artificial intelligence at the beginning of 2021. Following a public consultation open until the summer, it allows parties who would like to submit written comments on its impact assessment to do so until 10 September (see EUROPE 12538/13).
For its part, the European Parliament is preparing a legislative own-initiative report, which should be put to vote in the Committee on Legal Affairs on 19 October. See the BEUC report at: https://bit.ly/2F9QE39 (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)