Is it man-made or AI?/ Europe seeks identification as it fights disinformation

2023-06-05 22:06:22, Tech CNA

LONDON (AP) – The European Union is asking online platforms such as Google and Meta to step up efforts against fake information by adding a grade to text, photos and other content generated by artificial intelligence, a European Union official said. high on Monday.

EU Commission Vice President Vera Jourova said the ability of a new generation of artificial intelligence chatbots, otherwise known as AI, to create complex content and visuals in seconds adds "new challenges to the fight against disinformation ".

Ms Jourova said she urged Google, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok and other tech firms that have signed the 27-nation bloc's voluntary agreement to fight disinformation to focus on efforts to tackle the AI ??problem .

Online platforms that have integrated artificial intelligence into their services, such as Microsoft's Bing search engine and Google's Bard chatbot, must build in safeguards to prevent "malicious actors" from generating misinformation, Ms Jourova told a conference in Brussels.

Companies offering services that have the potential to spread AI-generated disinformation should use technology to "identify such content and clearly label this to users," she said.

Ms Jourova said EU regulations are meant to protect free speech, but when it comes to artificial intelligence, "machines are not the ones who should have freedom of speech".

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence, which has the ability to produce human-like text, images and videos, has amazed many researchers and alarmed others about its potential to transform many aspects of people's lives. daily.

Europe has taken a leading role in the global movement to regulate artificial intelligence with its AI bills, which still need final approval and will not come into effect for several years.

Officials in the EU, who are preparing a special set of rules this year to protect people from harmful content online, are concerned that they need to act more quickly to keep pace with the development of artificial intelligence.

Under the EU's draft law, voluntary commitments to the disinformation code will soon become legal obligations, and will force the biggest tech companies by the end of August to better police their platforms to protect users from hate speech, misinformation and other harmful material.

Ms. Jourova said, however, that companies should immediately start tagging content generated by artificial intelligence.

Most of these digital giants are already signatories to the EU code, which requires companies to measure their work in the fight against disinformation and publish regular reports on their progress.

Twitter left last month in what appears to be Mr Elon Musk's latest move to loosen restrictions on the social media company after he bought it last year.

Mrs. Jourova called the move wrong./ VOA