Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to change the world as we know it. On the one hand, it can improve our lives for the better. By learning from our (vast amounts of) data, AI can provide innovative solutions to complex problems. Precision medicine and autonomous driving are on the horizon.

On the other hand, the revolution poses many data protection and privacy concerns. AI could take autonomous choices and conclusions that affect citizens. What are the ethical considerations? Which human values should AI systems safeguard? How can the malicious use of AI be deterred? France just provided people with a new opportunity to join this debate.

On 23rd October 2018, the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners (ICDPPC) adopted the Declaration on Ethics and Data Protection in Artificial Intelligence (in English and in French).

The text is now open for public consultation and all interested stakeholders are invited to contribute. Hence, the French Commission Nationale de l’Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL), which currently holds the rotating function as Secretariat of the ICDPPC, requests stakeholders to send in written contributions directly to ExCoSecretariat@icdppc.org by 25th January 2019. The contributions will feed into the work of the newly established ICDPPC Working Group on Ethics and Data Protection in Artificial Intelligence.

We are proud to announce that the President of CNIL, Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, will speak about responsible AI on Thursday 15 November 2018 during the Erasmus-Descartes Conference on AI. She will be joined on the panel by Nozha Boujemaa (Inria/Data IA), Jeroen van den Hoven (TU Delft), Hélène Jeannin (Impact AI/Orange Labs), Linda Kool (Rathenau) and Marie Anastacio as a participant of the Jeune Talent programme, moderated by Lousewies van der Laan (ICANN). The debate on AI and ethics, specifically the development of responsible AI, is both urgent and necessary. If you also wish to attend the conference, please find the event website here or stay informed on social media using the hashtag #EDC18AI.