Artificial intelligence determines our lives

The risks associated with it must be addressed today

 Posted on March 10, 2021  |  3 minutes  |  580 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

Many of us imagine artificial intelligence (AI) as sci-fi characters like Terminator or Robocop. However, AI plays a crucial role in the digital transformation of society and is already part of our daily lives. Algorithms select suitable clothes for us, sort our CVs during hiring, or decide what content on social networks is displayed to us. Although we should move forward together with technological progress, we should also be aware of the possible threats that come from the development of artificial intelligence. [Read More]
artificial intelligence  facial recognition 

I strive for transparency in the European Parliament

We have the right to know how our money is used and how our representatives vote

 Posted on March 10, 2021  |  3 minutes  |  607 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

Since the founding of the Czech Pirate Party in 2009, we have been striving for greater transparency, especially in the case of public money – whether at the Prague City Hall, in the Chamber of Deputies, or in the European Parliament. As Vice-President of the last named, I have the opportunity to lead this fight on several battlefronts. However, these are mainly two areas: the transparency of public money spending by Members of the European Parliament and the vote in the European Parliament committees. [Read More]
remote voting  transparency 

The Internet needs a fundamental change

What will the new rules bring?

 Posted on March 10, 2021  |  3 minutes  |  432 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

The digital space in Europe has remained the same since the beginning of the new millennium. In the meantime, a number of services have appeared to help us find information, watch videos, keep in touch with friends, or find the partner of our dreams. Words such as algorithms, targeted advertising, personal data protection, or communication encryption are increasingly seeping into public space. Politicians, experts, academics, and the public call for regulation of dominant platforms, such as Facebook, Google, and Twitter. [Read More]
censorship  content moderation  cyber security  Digital Services Act  Digital Markets Act 

Greens/EFA proposal for Notice and Action

 Posted on December 15, 2020  |  3 minutes  |  627 words  |  Marcel Kolaja

What is the aim of our proposal? The Internet is an empowering tool that allows us to communicate globally, meet each other, build networks, join forces, access information and culture, and express and spread political opinions. Unfortunately, platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok filter and moderate with a lot of collateral damage: too often, hateful content—especially targeting minority groups—remains on-line. On the other hand, legitimate posts, videos, accounts, and ads are removed, and the platforms make it difficult to contest. [Read More]
content moderation  Digital Services Act  hate speech  notice and action 

A Christmas gift

Proposal for future Internet regulation

 Posted on December 11, 2020  |  2 minutes  |  276 words  |  Marcel Kolaja

On December 15, the European Commission will issue a proposal for legislation which will govern the use of Internet services that we use every day (social networks, e-commerce platforms, file hosting, sharing services, and similar). The proposal will be sent to the Parliament and to the Council to amend it. Situation in the Parliament In the meantime, the Parliament has already adopted its preliminary political views (not legally binding) on how the future Internet legislation should look like. [Read More]
Digital Services Act  interoperability  notice and action 

Trilogue on terrorism content on-line

What's at stake?

 Posted on December 9, 2020  |  3 minutes  |  548 words  |  Marcel Kolaja

How to handle terrorism content on-line? That is a question that European lawmakers are about to answer soon: The next trilogue on the regulation setting rules on removals of terrorism content on-line shall take place tomorrow, December 10 . For its far reaching measures, the regulation has been heavily criticized by NGOs. The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, and the UN Special Rapporteur point out the very same problem: without effective safeguards, the regulation could lead to overreaching suppression of content and could, therefore, undermine fundamental rights, especially the freedom of expression. [Read More]
TERREG 

Position of the European Parliament on Artificial Intelligence

Disappointing in not addressing mass surveillance properly among others

 Posted on November 16, 2020  |  4 minutes  |  762 words  |  Marcel Kolaja

Last month, the European Parliament voted on several reports regarding the future legislation on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Namely, these were reports on the framework of ethical aspects of AI, robotics and related technologies, on the civil liability regime for AI, and on so-called intellectual property rights for the development of AI technologies. I voted against all these reports for numerous reasons. Let’s take a closer look at them. In many respects, these reports reacted to the white paper on AI: a European approach to excellence and trust, which the Commission published in February. [Read More]
Artificial Intelligence  facial recognition  FOSS  Free Software  Open Source  open technologies 

Act now to prevent national governments from dismantling encryption!

 Posted on November 11, 2020  |  3 minutes  |  447 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

Two months ago, I questioned Commissioner Johansson in the plenary about Commission’s plan with the regulation derogating from ePrivacy; however, I didn’t get a satisfying answer to my concerns. Now, citizens’ privacy faces another attack. This time from the Member States. Following the Commission’s plan to create exception from the ePrivacy rules and consequently weaken encryption for the purpose of investigating child sexual abuse material on-line, the general subject of encryption is in front of Member States in the Council. [Read More]
cyber security 

Position of the European Parliament on the Digital Services Act

Acceptable with reservations

 Posted on November 4, 2020  |  4 minutes  |  683 words  |  Marcel Kolaja

Last month, the European Parliament voted on the Saliba report on the Digital Services Act. Overall, it’s an acceptable compromise that takes on board many of the suggestions I tabled. Having said that, some parts of the text could be improved. Let’s take a look at the particular components of the approved report. What it means for the future of the Internet From the user point of view, numerous aspects are crucial. [Read More]
Digital Services Act  interoperability  notice and action 

Introducing: My content, my rights

 Posted on October 26, 2020  |  2 minutes  |  221 words  |  Marcel Kolaja  • Other languages: cs

In preparation for the upcoming Digital Services Act legislative proposal, we launched a campaign with my political group: My content, my rights. What is it about? The campaign aims at addressing the specific issue of unfair on-line account blocking and removal by on-line platforms. If you ever felt your rights were violated, share your experience on our take-down wall of shame, and empower yourself by contributing to the future European rules for user rights and big tech. [Read More]
Digital Services Act  notice and action