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The E.U. AI Act: human rights protections...with exceptions?
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Last Friday, the E.U. reached a political agreement on the AI Act – a landmark piece of legislation to regulate the use of artificial intelligence. But while negotiators have effusively declared victory in reaching a deal, we aren't celebrating. In our latest post, Access Now’s Daniel Leufer, Caterina Rodelli, and Fanny Hidvégi explain what we know so far about the deal, why we need to stay vigilant during the last phase, and why the fight for our rights isn’t over yet. Read more via Access Now
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LISTEN: “Europe advances its AI Act”
Euractiv Technology Editor Luca Bertuzzi has been tracking every step of the legislative process since the E.U. Act was first introduced. In a podcast episode for Tech Policy Press, he shares his thoughts on the process so far, what was decided last week, and where we go from here. “At the beginning, everyone was like, ‘What are you doing? This technology is not there yet,’” Bertuzzi says. “And now the mood was, ‘Oh, you're not fast enough. This technology's moving too fast for you now.’" Tune in via Tech Policy Press
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Make no mistake: AI is owned by Big Tech
Those with the most money get to make the rules. That’s the central thesis of a powerful op-ed by AI experts Amba Kak, Sarah Myers West, and Meredith Whittaker. Without intervention, they warn, the AI market “will only end up rewarding and entrenching the very same companies that reaped the profits of the invasive surveillance business model that has powered the commercial internet, often at the expense of the public.” Read more via MIT Technology Review
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How to protect Black and brown lives in the age of AI
Compared to the E.U., the U.S. is moving relatively slowly on establishing rules for AI. Yet there’s no shortage of evidence to show this technology is exacerbating deeply entrenched racism and discrimination. “The incidents involving Porcha Woodruff and Robert Williams, where wrongful arrests unfolded in front of their children, reflect a deeper issue—contributing not just to individual rights violations, but also to the collective trauma,” writes Access Now’s Willmary Escoto for Newsweek. Learn what government accountability watchdogs have discovered about how U.S. authorities are already using AI, and how regulators can prevent further generational trauma. Read more via Newsweek
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Genocide is not business as usual
NEW REPORT: “Content and platform governance in times of crisis: applying international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law”
How do international legal regimes apply to the content governance decisions made by companies like Meta? Our latest report examines when and how these global rules come into play in the context of conflict, war, and humanitarian crises, such as those in Ethiopia, Syria, Israel/Palestine, and Myanmar. Read more via Access Now
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UNESCO’s global guidelines for content governance: key concerns
If we want to safeguard free expression online, it’s crucial to understand that context matters — as does transparency. Access Now’s Agneris Sampieri looks at how UNESCO developed the agency's guidelines for the governance of digital platforms, noting that creating a uniform regulatory framework, without first ensuring sufficient transparency and participation by Global Majority stakeholders, could have “a detrimental impact on human rights worldwide and encourage state restriction of civic spaces, especially in countries with fragile or authoritarian democracies.” Read the original Spanish post or the English translation. Read more via Access Now
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Shaping the future of human rights
Opportunities and other highlights
PLAY: The shutdown game
In order to circumvent and advocate against internet shutdowns, we have to understand how they work. A new game from the Association for Progressive Communications (APC) helps you learn more about how governments control internet access and what you can do about it, and it’s free for anyone to adapt as a learning tool for your communities. Learn more via APC
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