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Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
\"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The Digital Services Act<\/a>(DSA) introduced by the European Union last year has some special purpose. It aims to give itself more power over big tech companies. Now, the European Commission has asked TikTok to explain itself under these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
The Digital Services Act<\/a>(DSA) introduced by the European Union last year has some special purpose. It aims to give itself more power over big tech companies. Now, the European Commission has asked TikTok to explain itself under these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to Dr. Hodge, \u201c if people want to spend less time on TikTok Lite and there are extra things trying to keep people engaged, that will cause problems.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Digital Services Act<\/a>(DSA) introduced by the European Union last year has some special purpose. It aims to give itself more power over big tech companies. Now, the European Commission has asked TikTok to explain itself under these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to her, \"It is very motivating and enjoyable to get rewards, and I think it just keeps pulling us back\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dr. Hodge, \u201c if people want to spend less time on TikTok Lite and there are extra things trying to keep people engaged, that will cause problems.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Digital Services Act<\/a>(DSA) introduced by the European Union last year has some special purpose. It aims to give itself more power over big tech companies. Now, the European Commission has asked TikTok to explain itself under these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Dr. Hodge, who specializes in gaming and digital addiction, told the BBC that these rewards could have a significant impact, even though they may not be big in financial terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to her, \"It is very motivating and enjoyable to get rewards, and I think it just keeps pulling us back\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dr. Hodge, \u201c if people want to spend less time on TikTok Lite and there are extra things trying to keep people engaged, that will cause problems.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Digital Services Act<\/a>(DSA) introduced by the European Union last year has some special purpose. It aims to give itself more power over big tech companies. Now, the European Commission has asked TikTok to explain itself under these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
Dr. Sarah Hodge, a cyberpsychologist at Bath Spa University, described the rewards program as a \"completely different approach\" to how social media usually tries to keep people engaged. She said, \"They're making it much clearer and openly rewarding people.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Hodge, who specializes in gaming and digital addiction, told the BBC that these rewards could have a significant impact, even though they may not be big in financial terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to her, \"It is very motivating and enjoyable to get rewards, and I think it just keeps pulling us back\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dr. Hodge, \u201c if people want to spend less time on TikTok Lite and there are extra things trying to keep people engaged, that will cause problems.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Digital Services Act<\/a>(DSA) introduced by the European Union last year has some special purpose. It aims to give itself more power over big tech companies. Now, the European Commission has asked TikTok to explain itself under these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
There is a report that compared this feature to video games. Video games also have features based on the players activity and also encourage players to keep playing and coming back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Sarah Hodge, a cyberpsychologist at Bath Spa University, described the rewards program as a \"completely different approach\" to how social media usually tries to keep people engaged. She said, \"They're making it much clearer and openly rewarding people.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Hodge, who specializes in gaming and digital addiction, told the BBC that these rewards could have a significant impact, even though they may not be big in financial terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to her, \"It is very motivating and enjoyable to get rewards, and I think it just keeps pulling us back\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dr. Hodge, \u201c if people want to spend less time on TikTok Lite and there are extra things trying to keep people engaged, that will cause problems.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Digital Services Act<\/a>(DSA) introduced by the European Union last year has some special purpose. It aims to give itself more power over big tech companies. Now, the European Commission has asked TikTok to explain itself under these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to the newspaper, \"The users have no choice\u201d. \"Only viewing content proposed by the application is rewarded.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a report that compared this feature to video games. Video games also have features based on the players activity and also encourage players to keep playing and coming back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Sarah Hodge, a cyberpsychologist at Bath Spa University, described the rewards program as a \"completely different approach\" to how social media usually tries to keep people engaged. She said, \"They're making it much clearer and openly rewarding people.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Hodge, who specializes in gaming and digital addiction, told the BBC that these rewards could have a significant impact, even though they may not be big in financial terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to her, \"It is very motivating and enjoyable to get rewards, and I think it just keeps pulling us back\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dr. Hodge, \u201c if people want to spend less time on TikTok Lite and there are extra things trying to keep people engaged, that will cause problems.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Digital Services Act<\/a>(DSA) introduced by the European Union last year has some special purpose. It aims to give itself more power over big tech companies. Now, the European Commission has asked TikTok to explain itself under these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
According to French newspaper Le Monde<\/a>, users can only earn rewards on videos that are suggested by TikTok's algorithmic feeds, not on videos they search for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the newspaper, \"The users have no choice\u201d. \"Only viewing content proposed by the application is rewarded.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a report that compared this feature to video games. Video games also have features based on the players activity and also encourage players to keep playing and coming back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Sarah Hodge, a cyberpsychologist at Bath Spa University, described the rewards program as a \"completely different approach\" to how social media usually tries to keep people engaged. She said, \"They're making it much clearer and openly rewarding people.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Hodge, who specializes in gaming and digital addiction, told the BBC that these rewards could have a significant impact, even though they may not be big in financial terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to her, \"It is very motivating and enjoyable to get rewards, and I think it just keeps pulling us back\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Dr. Hodge, \u201c if people want to spend less time on TikTok Lite and there are extra things trying to keep people engaged, that will cause problems.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Digital Services Act<\/a>(DSA) introduced by the European Union last year has some special purpose. It aims to give itself more power over big tech companies. Now, the European Commission has asked TikTok to explain itself under these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A formal investigation started into TikTok in February. They just want to check that TikTok fulfills the rule or not. The rules about protecting data, keeping children safe, and handling harmful content. On this investigation TikTok said it would cooperate and keep working with online safety experts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DSA is one of the important acts that assist to manage digital platforms. Its main purpose is to check that companies like TikTok follow rules and also make sure that the different platforms are safe for kids. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU wants to ensure that tech giants respect these rules and act responsibly. This move also highlights the European Union commitment to ensure the citizens' online appearance is safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, different tech companies are responsible for their actions in the European Union. It also makes sure that they protect people's data, keep children safe, and manage harmful content properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, TikTokmis ready to cooperate. It also highlights they are ready to adjust their policies to meet EU standards. This could lead to changes that better protect users and align with what's expected in Europe.<\/p>\n","post_title":"TikTik Lite, EU Commission wants to answer the question related to this new version","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"tiktik-lite-eu-commission-wants-to-answer-the-question-related-to-this-new-version","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7044","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7015,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-13 11:43:31","post_content":"\n Global airlines sent the secret letter to the European Union to weaken its proposed rules. These rules are related to track the system that affects climate change due to emission of hazardous gasses other than carbon dioxide (CO\u2082), such as the vapor trails planes leave behind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Airlines have faced criticism for contributing to climate change through CO\u2082 emissions, but the effects of other emissions, like aircraft condensation trails (contrails), nitrogen oxides, and sulfur, are less well-known or tracked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union introduced the new rule starting from January 2025. According to it, the European Union will require airlines to measure and report emissions from planes taking off within the EU, not just carbon dioxide but other emissions too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main leader of the airline industry group wrote a letter to the European Union. In this letter he expresses the industry's concern. He used to be in charge of British Airways and thinks the EU's new rule is too strict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He suggested that the EU should make this new rule optional for airlines <\/a>and limit its focus to flights within the EU, instead of flights leaving Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to this rule many airline leaders are worried. According to Walsh airline, \u201cwe can't measure non-CO\u2082 emissions as precisely as we can measure CO\u2082\u201d. He also mentioned that the modern way to measure the other emissions is not reliable enough. Due to this problem it is very difficult to reduce or control emissions effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to him: \u201cThe proposal risks creating a regulatory burden that will require airlines to provide large amounts of data for all flights, with an insufficient potential for positive environmental impact.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n European airlines are required to report how much CO\u2082 they emit, and they have to pay a fee for emissions from flights within Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The environmental group Transport & Environment said that the International Air Transport Association (Iata) is using the fact that science isn't 100% certain to avoid revealing the complete environmental impact of flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some flights such as Long-haul are on top of the table that cause climate disasters. This is due to a larger number of emissions other than CO\u2082. So, leaving airlines out of the plan to fix the problem wouldn't make sense, the statement explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to Jo Dardenne, aviation director of Transport & Environment \u201c Non-CO\u2082 emissions were recognised as a climate problem 25 years ago. But with delay tactics such as these, airlines are attempting to kill off any action that would allow them to address the issue.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The International Air Transport Association (IATA) issued a statement expressing its concern about the European Union's initiative to track non-CO\u2082 emissions from aircraft. IATA argued that the scientific understanding of these emissions and their impact on the environment is still uncertain and rapidly changing. They referred to a recent publication by the Royal Society of Chemistry, which suggested that more precise data is needed to understand the real effects of non-CO\u2082 emissions from aviation before definitive measures are put in place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n IATA's position reflects the airline industry's caution in addressing the environmental impact of flying. The long-haul flights that produce substantial emissions should also be extra careful after the introduction of new rules. Now it is good for airline leaders to think about how to address emissions effectively while acknowledging the evolving nature of the underlying science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite these reservations, there is a growing push to tackle aviation's impact on climate change, with some calling for stronger measures to reduce emissions from flying. The EU's monitoring program could be a first step, but IATA's response indicates that airlines want more clarity and evidence before committing to significant changes in operations.<\/p>\n","post_title":"European Union introduce the new rule about to track Non-CO\u2082 Emissions","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"european-union-introduce-the-new-rule-about-to-track-non-co%e2%82%82-emissions","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7015","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7010,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-10 18:35:06","post_content":"\n The Wild West of artificial intelligence is this. Whether you agree or disagree with this metaphor, there is some validity to the idea that this rapidly developing and wealthy environment lacks a sound legal and ethical foundation. Frameworks that are moral, secure, and reliable are required both today and in the future in this ever changing industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first of its type, the European Union's AI Act was approved at the end of last year. It affects businesses, developers, and users equally and was, in my opinion, passed hurriedly. This legislation is now being implemented and will become operative in the current year as well as future ones. This measure will affect everyone, whether you're an entrepreneur, an AI enthusiast, or just a regular tech user located in Europe or somewhere else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A legislative framework called the EU AI Act was created to control AI research and application within the EU. It presents a risk rating system for AI systems, with a prohibition for those ranked as high risk and equivalent rules for low risk. Its objective is to guarantee the safety, morality, and respect for basic human rights of AI technology. A lot of individuals, the European Union included, as well as other nations and organizations, have expressed worry about the way artificial intelligence is developing right now. The EU then sought to enact legislation in response to that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Businesses such as Open AI will have to reveal how they utilize your information. Businesses are prohibited from using AI systems for social scoring, which assigns a person a score based on their behavior or other characteristics in an effort to identify and target particular demographics. Do you recall that episode of Black Mirror? The European Union does. More publicly available data on tech businesses and their AI operations, including energy use, will be made available so that you can decide which AI to support and which to avoid. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your data will not be used by governments to categorize you into groups or scores that could be harmful to you. Live facial recognition technology will not be permitted for IT businesses. AI is not authorized to forecast your emotions or mood. Furthermore, it is prohibited for AI to infer someone's race, sexual orientation, or political views. Regulations like these are limiting this interruption of personal freedom and boosting technical transparency since, often, you don't even notice when this technology is being used on you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This AI Act is expected to have a ripple effect on other countries and important institutions, similar to how the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 forced nations like Brazil to follow suit. It is a ground-breaking milestone in AI ethics and legislation. It should come as no surprise that OpenAI's Sam Altman opposed the EU AI Act when it was initially proposed in the spring of last year, threatening to halt operations in Europe on the grounds that his business would have to enhance ChatGPT-4's security protections. There's no need to fear, though, as ChatGPT will continue to function throughout Europe. The amount of energy used by foreign and European businesses to train their AI models will need to be disclosed. By requiring openness, we will be able to learn more about the energy use of a business that uses AI technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n European businesses, such as Siemens of Germany and Airbus of France, have already voiced protests and worries about the Act, claiming it is overly restrictive and would stunt innovation and economic progress in the continent. European IT firms are finding it difficult to compete with US giants like OpenAI,<\/a> which have aggressively opposed regulations as previously indicated. On the political front, the European Parliament argues that, despite the current restrictions, this legislative framework would eventually result in long-term, sustainable development in innovation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The EU AI Act is a necessary and promising beginning for AI legal frameworks, but it is not the end all be all. The future of artificial intelligence is yet ahead of us, ideally one that is more moral, open, and always inventive. The final language of the measure may not be seen for weeks or perhaps months. Before the legislation becomes law, it must still undergo technical revisions and get approval from the EU Parliament and member states of Europe. Tech businesses have two years to put the laws into effect after they become enforceable. The six-month restriction on AI usage will go into effect, and businesses creating foundation models will have a year to comply with the rules. <\/p>\n","post_title":"Insights on the EU's new AI act: Five key points","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"insights-on-the-eus-new-ai-act-five-key-points","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7010","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":7007,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_date_gmt":"2024-05-08 21:36:52","post_content":"\n The green deal of the European Union has taken a major hit. There is a lot of pressure due to increased lobbying and protests by farmers, Brussels has backed off from key environmental goals. It includes cutting of the pesticide plan to half, spreading eco-friendly farming, lessening the emission of livestock and also banning toxic \u201cforever\u201d chemicals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The main purpose of this retreat was likely to buy time, but it hasn't had the desired effect. The next law in the line is the EU's anti-deforestation law, with 20 agriculture ministers asking for it to be scaled back or suspended, citing \"administrative burdens.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now the question is: Why is all of this happening? One major reason behind it is that the centre-right parties are worried about the rise of far-right groups ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June. But some people also think that it may be a strategic move to set a business-friendly environment, or \"brown,\" agenda for the next European Commission, similar to how the Fridays for Future and Extinction Rebellion youth protests in 2018 shaped a greener direction for the current Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The key difference points out from Pieter de Pous, the independent climate think tank E3G: \u201cUnlike with the school strikes, the Commission and EU ministers didn\u2019t even wait for the election results to come in this time. They just gave in right away.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n If all of this keeps moving forward, the next casualty might be the world\u2019s forests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Losing the EU's anti-deforestation law would be a big deal globally. This law is one of the top environmental achievements of the European Commission's president Ursula von der Leyen, and it has earned recognition and inspired similar actions outside the EU. The law requires that certain products like beef, soy, coffee, and cocoa can be traced back to their sources, especially in areas where deforestation is a problem. If a product's origins can't be verified, it's banned. The EU's consumption of these products has caused around 10% of global forest loss, so this law is crucial for tackling deforestation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the farmers that work on a small scale in the bloc should not be bound by those protection rules that apply in Amazon, according to Europe\u2019s agriculture ministers. If Europe makes exceptions to its deforestation law, it raises some tough questions. How can the EU ban products from other countries that contribute to deforestation while allowing similar practices within its own borders? Why should other countries respect Europe's rules on protecting forests if Europe itself doesn't follow them? And how can we protect our remaining old-growth forests from the same industries that are causing deforestation elsewhere?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If the European Commission scraps this important measure, what will remain of its green deal by 2030? Not much, except for emissions cuts. Julia Christian from the forest conservation group Fern says that if President von der Leyen gives in, it would wipe out her biggest achievement in land use from the past five years. She warns that \"almost nothing is left of the green deal.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n The story behind the EU's move away from green policies is often about \"farmers with pitchforks.\" But farmers have had many different reasons for protesting, mainly focusing on three issues. First, they face a financial squeeze because their product prices are set low by retailers. Second, high input costs, fueled by commodity speculation around the Ukraine war, are eating into their profits. Third, farmers are worried that the trade deal between the EU and South America's Mercosur bloc will lead to more imports from countries with lower environmental and animal health standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest agribusiness trade associations are on the focal point of policymakers. Just last week, over 20 agriculture ministers sent a letter together, warning that there could be \"serious disruptions in all commodity supply chains\" to Europe if the deforestation law isn't made simpler by cutting \"red tape\" and reducing \"administrative burden.\"<\/p>\n","post_title":"EU's Green Retreat: A Win for Far Right, Disaster for Rest","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"eus-green-retreat-a-win-for-far-right-disaster-for-rest","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:27","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=7007","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"},{"ID":6905,"post_author":"7","post_date":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_date_gmt":"2024-03-05 17:22:42","post_content":"\n European lawmakers are \"furious\" over Microsoft's new \"strategic partnership\" with French artificial intelligence startup Mistral AI, citing changes to the EU AI Act that were made in response to Mistral and other firms' requests. In a significant turnabout for the start-up, the French AI champion announced its new large language model (LLM) on Monday and made it available to Azure cloud users of Microsoft. Kai Zenner, head of office and digital policy adviser for Axel Voss, an MEP from the European People's Party (EPP), said, \"On a technical and a political level in the [European] Parliament, we are extremely furious because the French government for months was making this argument of European leadership, meaning that those companies should be able to scale up without help from Chinese or US companies.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"They consistently accused the Parliament of creating an impractical barrier that prevents those national champions, or unicorns, from trying to compete with their international rivals,\" he said in an interview with Euronews Next. The technical elements of the EU's AI Act were recently agreed with by member states, but only after extensive talks in which France, in particular, pressed for concessions for open source businesses like Mistral. Zenner added that Mistral AI was arguing that they would be compelled to work with organizations such as Microsoft if their desires were not met. He says that because of the compromises, the laws would be \"attacked in front of courts\" and that the final version of the EU AI Act was hurried.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The European Union's competition watchdog, which also started looking into Microsoft's multibillion-dollar transaction with OpenAI last month, is also planning to investigate the alliance. Given that it's unknown if Mistral AI had discussions with Microsoft during the drafting of the EU AI Act, they may also come under investigation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \"Of course, some things could be further evaluated if this is the case and then certain lobbying happened or certain things were said by the French government,\" Zenner added. Microsoft and the French startup in collaboration Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are raising worries about Big Tech gaining control and uncertainty about who was aware of what during the negotiation of the EU AI Act, which is causing a political backlash in the EU due to Mistral AI. The European Commission declared that it will investigate the \u20ac15 million<\/a> investment in Mistral AI and Microsoft's \"small\" ownership of the company as part of a \"strategic partnership\" that was disclosed the day before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Dutch MEP from the Greens who worked closely on the AI Act, Kim van Sparrentak, told Euronews Next that \"Microsoft has been lobbying intensely since the start of negotiations.\" \"Mistral genuinely lobbied the European Council,\" she clarified, noting that she is not opposing the partnership's commercial choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In November of last year, the EU AI Act negotiations got underway, and lobbying was underway. Along with a few other EU countries, France pushed to weaken the regulations protecting open source businesses like Mistral, claiming that European businesses would instead look to the US and China for funding. The head of the AI4People Institute, which was established in 2018 to influence the conversation on AI ethics in the EU, Michelangelo Baracchi Bonvicini, stated, \"No one can say if Mistral was in talks with Microsoft back in November.\" However, we can be certain that a cooperation with a major IT business of that caliber is unlikely to materialize in a month or less. With two weeks' notice, it is not even feasible to talk with Microsoft's chief technical officer,\" he informed <\/p>\n\n\n\n Although Arthur Mensch, the business's co-founder and CEO, stated on social media that there were \"creative interpretations\" of the purchase and that Mistral is \"an independent European company with global ambitions,\" Mistral has declined Euronews Next's requests for an interview. MEPs should also inquire as to whether the French government was aware of the agreement before the Act's discussions. Given that Cedric O, the former digital secretary of state of France, is a board member of Mistral and has extensive ties to the French government, Van Sparrentak said there are \"many levels\" to the tale.<\/p>\n","post_title":"Green MEPs call for EU probe into ethical implications of Mistral AI's Microsoft partnership","post_excerpt":"","post_status":"publish","comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","post_password":"","post_name":"green-meps-call-for-eu-probe-into-ethical-implications-of-mistral-ais-microsoft-partnership","to_ping":"","pinged":"","post_modified":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_modified_gmt":"2025-02-02 08:34:58","post_content_filtered":"","post_parent":0,"guid":"https:\/\/dctransparency.com\/?p=6905","menu_order":0,"post_type":"post","post_mime_type":"","comment_count":"0","filter":"raw"}],"next":false,"prev":true,"total_page":3},"paged":1,"column_class":"jeg_col_2o3","class":"epic_block_3"};
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Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
European Union Vs TikTok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
European Union Vs TikTok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
European Union Vs TikTok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
European Union Vs TikTok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
European Union Vs TikTok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
European Union Vs TikTok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
European Union Vs TikTok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
European Union Vs TikTok<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Scope and definition of AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory framework and requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability measures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ethical and societal implications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement and penalties<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Concerns raised by green MEPs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Mistral AI-Microsoft partnership<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Transparency and accountability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Sustainability and green tech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n