EU plans "digital expropriation" of Europeans in the interest of AI companies
3 hours ago
- The Irish Presidency proposes prioritizing AI companies' profits over EU data protection rights, allowing automatic lawful use of personal data in AI contexts.
- The Digital Omnibus Proposal's Article 88c/88bis would broadly permit AI companies to exploit all collected personal data, including from non-customers, without consent.
- Critics like Max Schrems call this a 'digital expropriation' of Europeans, benefiting Big Tech while damaging EU industrial policy.
- The proposal legitimizes any AI-related data processing, including for harmful purposes like manipulation or killer drones, overturning previous GDPR restrictions.
- Proposed narrowing of 'personal data' definitions and 'abuse' clauses could render GDPR unenforceable, benefiting corporations at the expense of user rights.
- EU institutions are divided: the Commission favors industry lobbies, while some Parliament factions and courts may challenge the law's fundamental rights compatibility.