- Wissing: AI law could have been more innovation-friendly
Federal Digital Minister Volker Wissing (FDP) considers the AI Act that came into force in August to be important, but some of its provisions go too far for him. "I would have wished for a more innovation-friendly regulation," the FDP politician told the German Press Agency in Mainz. "But in the end, a compromise is better than no regulation at all." Now, Germany is facing the challenge of implementing it in a way that is as bureaucracy-free as possible.
"This will be very important because those involved in the development and use of AI have certain concerns," said Wissing. "Startups don't want to essentially employ lawyers. They want to focus on developing their technologies." Simple, implementable rules are needed. "If the signal at the end is that AI developers in Europe will never know if they are on the legally safe side, the location will be avoided."
Wissing advocates for lean and user-oriented oversight
After the AI Act comes into force, EU member states have two years to implement its provisions in national law. The regulations, for example, require AI applications to be classified into different risk groups. Systems deemed particularly risky must meet strict requirements. AI applications that violate EU values will be completely banned. This includes the evaluation of social behavior ("Social Scoring"), which is used in China to categorize citizens based on their behavior.
The EU's AI regulation also requires member states to designate a national AI oversight body within 12 months of its entry into force, to monitor compliance with the rules. "The oversight must be lean and user-oriented. Therefore, we rely on strengthening established and known oversight and market monitoring structures," said Wissing.
AI should be trustworthy
Users and developers of artificial intelligence in Germany should receive professional guidance. This is what the federal initiative Mission AI is supposed to ensure. The new AI center in Kaiserslautern, as well as the planned one in Berlin, offer consultation. This is particularly important for small and medium-sized enterprises that, unlike large companies, cannot simply build their own IT department or buy expertise on the market.
"I would like to see trustworthy AI as a brand product from Europe," said Wissing. The human being must always be at the center. "So should the regulation be oriented."
"Given the concerns of startups, who aim to concentrate on technology development rather than employing lawyers extensively, the implementation of the AI Act needs to ensure simple and clear regulations."
"Moreover, Wissing emphasizes the need for a lean and user-oriented oversight body in each EU member state, recognizing that relying on established structures will be more beneficial for both developers and users."
