32 Amendments of Vilija BLINKEVIČIŪTĖ related to 2020/2216(INI)
Amendment 2 #
Draft opinion
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digitalisation and artificial intelligence (AI) are leading to fundamental and structural changes toin the labour market, the workplaces and the work profile of every workers but also in consumer behaviour and the way people live in general;
Amendment 5 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Recalls that AI should be appropriately and clearly regulated, as well as used in a fair and ethical manner and with due respect for Union values and principles, human rights, freedom of expression, the right to privacy, data protection, non- discrimination, media pluralism and cultural diversity;
Amendment 12 #
Draft opinion
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 16 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Stresses the crucial importance of a coherent vision at Union level in order to achieve a genuine digital single market within an AI-powered society that would be secure and fully benefit users;
Amendment 19 #
Draft opinion
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Ba. whereas AI constitutes a strategic priority, the full potential of which can only be exploited if users and consumers are aware of the potential benefits and challenges it brings; whereas enterprises as well as workers and their representatives are often aware of neither AI applications nor of their underlying functions and data; whereas there are cases of AI applications in breach of existing regulations, such as data protection;
Amendment 27 #
Draft opinion
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic underlined the importance of digital solutions, including teleworking, as well as its technical and social implications; whereas there are no common provisions at Union level, as regards the application of AI at the workplace, which could lead to market distortions and competition disadvantages; whereas AI should be subject to an appropriate regulatory framework;
Amendment 31 #
Draft opinion
Recital B c (new)
Recital B c (new)
Bc. whereas the OECD has drawn up recommendations on AI[1]; [1] OECD, "Recommendation of the Council on Artificial Intelligence”, 2019, https://legalinstruments.oecd.org/en/instr uments/OECD-LEGAL-0449
Amendment 34 #
Draft opinion
Recital B d (new)
Recital B d (new)
Bd. whereas the Council of the European Union encourages the promotion of an ethical and human- centred approach with regard to AI[1]; [1] Council of the European Union “Council Conclusions on Shaping Europe’s Digital future”, June 2020
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Recital B e (new)
Recital B e (new)
Be. whereas social partners at Union level concluded a framework agreement on digitalisation, which amongst others includes a chapter on “Artificial intelligence and guaranteeing the human in control principle”[1]; [1] European Social Partners Framework Agreement on Digitalisation, June 2020
Amendment 35 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Emphasises that the transposition of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive (AVMSD) into national law isand its proper implementation are crucial to achieving a genuine digital single market; urges the Member States that have not yet done so to complete the transposition as soon as possible; stresses that the future Digital Services Act (DSA) and any future regulation on AI, with particular regard to the cultural and creative sectors, should be in line with the principles and obligations of the AVMSD;
Amendment 36 #
Draft opinion
Recital B f (new)
Recital B f (new)
Bf. whereas efforts to tackle gender bias and inequality in the digital sector are insufficient; whereas the gender gap persists across all digital technology domains and especially with regard to AI, thereby solidifying a male-biased trajectory for the digital sector in the foreseeable future;
Amendment 37 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph -1 (new)
Paragraph -1 (new)
-1. Points out that AI solutions have the potential to improve working conditions and the quality of life, including improved work-life balance and better accessibility for people with disabilities, to predict labour market development and to support human resource management in preventing human bias, yet they can also raise concerns as regards privacy and occupational health and safety, such as the right to disconnect, and lead to disproportionate and illegal surveillance and monitoring of workers and consumers, infringing their dignity and privacy, as well as discriminatory treatment, including in recruitment processes, due to biased algorithms, including gender or racially and ethnically biased algorithms[1] and algorithms to the detriment of vulnerable groups; is concerned, furthermore, that AI can undermine the freedom and autonomy of people and contribute to mental health problems of workers, such as burnout, “techno stress”, psychological overload and fatigue; stresses that AI solutions in the work place must be transparent, fair and avoid any negative implications for the workers; [1] European Parliament: “Education and employment of women in science, technology and the digital economy, including AI and its influence on gender equality”, April 2020.
Amendment 38 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. Stresses that the futuree importance of a common European approach with regard to the ethical aspects of AI; underlines that regulatory framework for AI in the European Union shouldmust ensure that consumers' and workers’ rights are fully respected and adapted to the new forms of work relations and work organisation, in a way that secures jobsin digital economy, and contribute to better working and iemproves upon wages and working conditions, while safeguarding the quality of employmentloyment conditions, including a better work-life balance; stresses, in addition, that the European AI framework shouldmust respect European values, Union rules and the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights;
Amendment 48 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Recalls that the employment and social acquis of the Union fully applies to AI and calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure proper enforcement and to address any potential legislative gaps; notes that the Union can become a global leader in promoting a socially responsible use of AI;
Amendment 52 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 c (new)
Paragraph 1 c (new)
1c. Points out that a comprehensive risk assessment should come before the development, deployment and implementation of AI systems, evaluating its impact on fundamental rights and working conditions, including in terms of occupational health and safety, as well as its social consequences; assessments should cover risks related to human decision-making and social discrimination, as well as the evaluation of occupational risks arising;
Amendment 53 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 d (new)
Paragraph 1 d (new)
1d. Underlines that competent authorities should have access to all information concerning the data used for training, statistical models and theoretical principles related to AI solutions as well as the empirical validity of their outcomes;
Amendment 54 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 e (new)
Paragraph 1 e (new)
1e. Calls for the application of the precautionary principle with regard to new technologies based on AI; underlines the fundamental principle that humans must always be in control of machines and AI and that AI decision making must be accountable and contestable and where relevant reversible; stresses that safety and security standards for AI must be respected and highlights the importance of regular checks and controls in this regard to prevent erroneous AI output; recalls that liability with regard to the use of AI must be clearly defined, both in the event of occupational accidents and damage caused to third parties;
Amendment 55 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 f (new)
Paragraph 1 f (new)
1f. Underlines that the digital transition must be better reflected in education and training systems and go hand-in-hand with improvements as regards democracy at work, good governance and strong public services;
Amendment 56 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 1 g (new)
Paragraph 1 g (new)
1g. Reiterates the importance of education and continuous learning to develop the qualifications necessary in the digital age and to tackle digital exclusion; calls on the Member States to invest in high quality, responsive and inclusive education, vocational training and life- long learning systems as well as re- skilling and up-skilling policies for workers in sectors that are potentially severely affected by AI; highlights the need to provide people with the necessary literacy, numeracy and digital skills as well as competences in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and cross-cutting soft skills, such as critical thinking, creativity and entrepreneurship; underlines that special attention must be paid to the inclusion of disadvantaged groups in this regard;
Amendment 64 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 2 a (new)
Paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Underlines that AI and any related legislation must not in any way affect the exercise of fundamental rights as recognised in the Member States and at Union level, including the right or freedom to strike or to take other action covered by the specific industrial relations systems in Member States, in accordance with national law and/or practice, or affect the right to negotiate, to conclude and enforce collective agreements, or to take collective action in accordance with national law and/or practice;
Amendment 74 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. UrgStresses the Commissionneed for social dialogue as regards the implementation of AI in general and tahe Member States to ensure that the implementation of AI enforces the dialogue between social partners and to allowad of any AI deployment at company level in particular; considers indispensable that workers and their representatives be consulted and receive sufficient information right from the start of the decision making process; underlines that the deployment of AI needs to be transparent and that AI systems at the workplace must respect the privacy and dignity of workers; calls on the Commission and the Member States to ensure trade unions access to the work floorworkplaces, albeit in digital form, in order to promote collective bargaining and guarantee a human-centred approach to AI at work;
Amendment 81 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 3 a (new)
Paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. Underlines that special attention must be paid to data collected at the workplace with the help of AI, in particular if it is used for human resources decisions; calls on social partners at company level to jointly analyse and monitor the deployment of AI; calls on the Commission and social partners to analyse the need for special provisions on data protection at the workplace in the context of AI; stresses that workers are the owners of their data, even after the end of an employment relationship;
Amendment 87 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4
Paragraph 4
4. Recalls the importance of cooperation between academics, industry, social partners and governments on research and innovation in digital technologiesregarding the digital transition, so that all social and human aspects are taken into account1 ; __________________ 1 European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, ‘Digitalisation and occupational safety and health – An EU-OSHA research programme’, p. 10.
Amendment 91 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Considers that it should be mandatory for users, including workers, and consumers to be informed when a system uses AI, particularly with regard to personalised products or services, and to receive meaningful information, in easily understandable and accessible form, on all ethical aspects of AI applications relevant to them, to take informed decisions; stresses the importance of understanding how algorithms process and value data and how this can be limited or stopped; highlights the need for competence development through training and education for workers and their representatives with regard to AI in the workplace to better understand the implications of AI solutions;
Amendment 100 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Recalls that the use of AI applications, algorithms and process development affecting all aspects of work and workers’ rights, such as recruitment processes, must not discriminate against workers and vulnerable groups or reinforce inequalities on the pretextbased ofn gender, age, disability or nationality;
Amendment 108 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 a (new)
Paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Reiterates its call for a prohibition of the use of AI in recruitment processes;
Amendment 112 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 5 b (new)
Paragraph 5 b (new)
5b. Underlines that AI must not reinforce gender inequalities and stereotypes by transforming analogue biases and prejudices into digital ones through algorithms;
Amendment 122 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 6 a (new)
Paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. Stresses the need to ensure that people from diverse backgrounds, including women, young people, people of colour and people with disabilities are included in the development, deployment and use of AI; recalls that AI-based technologies at the workplace must be accessible for all, based on the design for all principle;
Amendment 126 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Calls on the Commission to improve labourthe working and employment conditions for platform workers in its upcoming legislative proposal in order to guarantee healthy and safe working environments, quality employment and decent wages, the right to disconnect, the obligation of employers to offer perpetual digital retraining, and full, transparent checks of employees’ online identity;
Amendment 135 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Calls on the Commission and the Member States to update the European Skills Agenda and, the Digital Education Action Plan, so that workers can upskill and become qualified for the challenges of the future world of work; calls on the Member States to update their national vocational and professional training and upskilling programmes so as to ensure digital literacy and promote digital inclusion (οn average, 16 % of EU workers fear that digitalisation will render their skills outdated2 ) as well as national vocational and professional training and upskilling programmes, to better address the challenges of adapting and acquiring qualifications and knowledge, in view of the ecological and digital transition, including ethical aspects of AI; underlines the need to make ethical aspects of AI and the development of skills for ethical purposes an integral part of any education and training curricula for developers and people working with AI; recalls that developers, programmers, decision-makers and companies dealing with AI must be aware of their ethical responsibility; considers it likewise important to ensure that end users and consumers are provided with comprehensive information and that there are regular exchanges between all relevant stakeholders in this regard; __________________ 2 Cedefop, ‘Artificial or human intelligence? Digitalisation and the future of jobs and skills: opportunities and risks’, p. 3.
Amendment 142 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Amendment 158 #
Draft opinion
Paragraph 9 a (new)
Paragraph 9 a (new)
9a. Points out that access to AI solutions is closely linked to access to high speed internet and therefore broadband coverage should be apriority in order to avoid discrimination and unequal access to these technologies;