The European Commission (EC) has taken a proactive stance against potential risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) by requesting major technology companies under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Microsoft, Alphabet, Meta, Twitter (X), Snapchat, and TikTok have been Requested to share how they handle risks like AI spreading false info, deepfake proliferation, and automated service manipulation misleading voters.
The companies have until April 5 to respond to the commission’s questions about election integrity and until April 26 to answer the remaining queries. The EC’s efforts come as regulators worldwide are cracking down on the use of AI to commit various forms of fraud.
The EC has launched formal proceedings to determine whether Alibaba’s AliExpress breached DSA requirements. The investigation will examine the online marketplace’s management and mitigation of risks, content moderation, handling of complaints, advertising transparency, traceability of traders, and accessibility of data to researchers.
Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s competition watchdog, emphasized, “Consumers’ protection, especially for minors, is an essential cornerstone of the Digital Services Act. AliExpress must respect its obligations to mitigate the systemic risks on its platform and apply all safeguard provisions to ensure its services are safe.”
Article 74(2) of the DSA allows the commission to be fined for providing inaccurate or misleading information in response to requests. Failure to respond could result in the imposition of periodic penalty payments.
The European Commission’s move highlights the growing concern over the potential misuse of AI and the need for transparency and accountability from tech giants operating in the region.
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