#eu (25 results)

Copy, paste, govern: Microsoft ghostwrote EU policy that keeps data centers’ energy use secret

The EU Commission’s policy on data centers keeps information on the energy and water use of individual centers under wraps. Research by Corporate and Europe Observatory and AlgorithmWatch, published by Investigate Europe, reveals the Commission copied and pasted an amendment suggested by Microsoft and the lobby group Digital Europe. The aim: To prevent NGOs from obtaining information on energy-hungry data centers in the face of growing resistance.

The Seamless Surveillance Machine: Europe’s Biometric Border Vision

The EU aims to develop and deploy so-called “biometrics on the move” technologies in order to turn its borders into engines of seamless mass discrimination. Behind the promise of rendering border crossings instantaneous and border checks invisible, lies a vision rooted in opacity and unproven technological solutions. This could, in practice, usher in a regime of invisible but pervasive mass surveillance of people on the move and travelers alike.

The EU’s empty promises on sustainable border AI

EU-funded projects claim to make automated border surveillance environmentally sustainable, but the Commission admitted to AlgorithmWatch that it lacks rigorous definitions, standards and methods to translate these claims into measurable outcomes. As a result, a more ubiquitous “Green” border AI will most likely harm — rather than help — the planet.

Frontex is building an ‘AI chatbot app’ to encourage repatriations

The chatbot shall provide answers, including legal advice, in many different languages although it was only fed information in English, new documents show.

Sexualized images on X: What we are doing to stop them and what we expect from the EU

X’s Grok chatbot is the focus of yet another scandal after generating pictures of real people in bikinis, without their consent, including children. But the problem of AI-generated sexual images without consent on X goes much further than Grok — and X blocked our research to address the problem. The EU Commission needs to step up their game to protect people from this kind of violence.

Press release

Reality check and a special present: The Digital Services Act turns three.

Happy Birthday, Digital Services Act! – Time for a Reality Check

The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) celebrates its third birthday. This landmark digital regulation is meant to give a better understanding of how online services decide what users see, and more powers to challenge the companies. However, there is still work to do to make the DSA meet the needs of citizens and users.

Open Letter

Over 40 NGOs call for a firm stance against US threats

Over 40 NGOs and individuals from the digital rights field are calling on the European Commission to respond firmly to the recent warning from the US government. The US has threatened sanctions if the EU does not weaken its digital laws in favor of American corporations.

Automation on the Move

Border Surveillance on the Move to Enforce Restrictive Measures

In two recent Horizon Europe research projects, adaptable and mobile AI-based surveillance assemblages are developed to secure both the external and internal borders of the European Union. AlgorithmWatch looked into project material that revealed a lopsided fixation on defense.

Automation on the Move

The EU Spends Big on Border Tech — But Has No Idea What It Gets

The European Commission claims not to monitor if research findings of EU-funded projects are applied to the market after they have ended, AlgorithmWatch found. As no EU institution seems to be responsible for checking on border security investments, it is hard to tell if the millions spent actually lead to technological innovation.

Press release

Biometric anti-queer hostility in Hungary: Petition calls on EU Commission to fully ban face recognition

The Hungarian government may try to enforce a ban on the Budapest Pride parade next weekend with real-time biometric face recognition. This would be a case of Hungary breaking EU law. Together with other organizations, AlgorithmWatch is launching a petition calling on the EU Commission to enforce a full ban on face recognition in public spaces in the EU.

“Risks come not just from technology” – Input to the EU on systemic risks and the DSA

AlgorithmWatch has submitted expert input to the EU on systemic risks stemming from online platforms and search engines. We argued risks come not just from technology, but also (1) the attitudes of companies and (2) lack of transparency around enforcement. This input was at the invite of the European Board of Digital Services and the EU Commission, to help prepare their first report on systemic risks under the Digital Services Act. Read our full response here:

AI Action Summit in Paris – a missed opportunity?

Our Executive Directors, Angela Müller and Matthias Spielkamp, were in Paris last week representing us at the international AI Action Summit in Paris hosted by the French Government. So, what to make of the summit, the billion-dollar promises made at it, and the Big Tech party beats that never stop pounding? These are their main observations.

As of February 2025: Harmful AI applications prohibited in the EU

Bans under the EU AI Act become applicable now. Certain risky AI systems which have been already trialed or used in everyday life are from now on – at least partially – prohibited.

A Dual Track Approach to Systemic Risks ensures flexibility and transparency in the Digital Services Act

Joint Statement

Upcoming Commission Guidelines on the AI Act Implementation: Human Rights and Justice Must Be at Their Heart

The Artificial Intelligence Act establishes rules for the development and use of AI concerning the EU. Now that the law is being implemented, civil society calls on the EU Commission to put human rights and justice at the forefront when interpreting the law.

A Year of Challenging Choices – 2024 in Review

2024 was a "super election" year and it marked the rise of generative Artificial Intelligence. With the adoption of the AI Act, it seemed poised to be the moment we finally gained control over automated systems. Yet, that certainty still feels out of reach.

Automation on the Move

Systems based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making (ADM) are increasingly being experimented with and used on migrants, refugees, and travelers. Too often, this is done without adequate democratic discussion or oversight. In addition, their use lacks transparency and justification to those who are subjected to these systems, as a growing body of literature and evidence shows. This needs to change.

Automation on the Move

The Automation of Fortress Europe: Behind the Black Curtain

The European Union poured 5 million euros into the development of a border surveillance system called NESTOR. When we tried to look into it, we were presented hundreds of redacted, blacked out pages.

Automation on the Move

Blurred Lines: When Civilian Research Projects Become of Military Interest

The EU does not fund border security research projects that mainly target military applications. Or do they? AlgorithmWatch found that in the realm of border security, civilian applications appeal enormously to the military.

Automation on the Move

Automating EU Borders, Broken Checks and Balances

For over a year, we have been looking into EU-funded border security research projects to assess their methodological approaches and ethical implications. We failed.

Automation on the Move

EMERALD – The One That Fell from Grace

Only one proposed border security research project did not meet the EU’s ethical requirements and was rejected, AlgorithmWatch found. What was so unique about this surveillance system?

Image Generators Are Trying to Hide Their Biases – And They Make Them Worse

In the run-up to the EU elections, AlgorithmWatch has investigated which election-related images can be generated by popular AI systems. Two of the largest providers don’t adhere to security measures they have announced themselves recently.

Campaign: ADM and People on the Move

Borders without AI

29,000 people have died in the Mediterranean over the past ten years while trying to reach the EU. You would think that the EU wanted this tragedy to stop and scientists across Europe were working feverishly on making this happen with the latest technology. The opposite is the case: With the help of so-called Artificial Intelligence, the walls are being raised, financed with taxpayers' money.

Campaign: ADM and People on the Move

The Automated Fortress Europe: No Place for Human Rights

29,000 people have died in the Mediterranean over the past ten years while trying to reach the EU. You would think that the EU wanted this tragedy to stop and scientists across Europe were working feverishly on making this happen with the latest technology. The opposite is the case: With the help of so-called Artificial Intelligence, digital border walls are being raised, financed with taxpayers' money.