A top US cyber diplomat warned Monday that European proposals for regulation of artificial intelligence could hamper technology development at a time when data risks from China and other countries pose a threat.
European Union legislation restricting the use of AI applications is concerning, partly because it was drafted before the current explosion of interest in generative AI, said Nathaniel Fick, Ambassador for Cyberspace and Digital Policy. said in a phone call with reporters. . He said regulation needs to be agile given the accelerating pace of technology.
Nathaniel Fick, Ambassador for Cyberspace and Digital Policy.
photograph:
U.S. Department of State
European lawmakers are set to vote on a version of the law on Wednesday, with officials saying they hope to finalize the rule by the end of the year.
Fick also said the proposal could lead to a concentration of AI efforts in the United States, as opposed to efforts in multiple countries.
“I fear that the impulse of some European political leaders will lead to a scenario where, like cloud computing companies, the world’s leading AI companies are all US companies,” he said. rice field.
Fick said it was not yet clear which countries would have more powerful AI companies, and that more decentralized AI development in the “small Silicon Valleys” of European democracies would be a long-term political move. pointed out that it would bring real and economic benefits.
U.S. officials working with companies on voluntary AI guidelines are likely to agree on an initial position within the next month, Fick said, before seeking international help.
Philip Leitinger, chief executive of the Global Cyber Alliance, a non-profit that provides free cybersecurity, said the Ukrainian war and Taiwan tensions are not the same despite differing regulatory approaches to issues such as data privacy. As a result, the United States and Europe are strengthening cooperation on cybersecurity, he said. Tools for businesses and individuals. Officials are also focusing on joint approaches to emerging technologies to stay ahead of other regions, he said.
“The urgency to enhance transatlantic cyber cooperation has increased significantly,” Reiter said.
The United States and Europe are stepping up efforts to block allies from using Huawei products to build infrastructure for 5G mobile networks. Officials on both sides of the Atlantic have said Huawei products pose cybersecurity risks because the company is obligated to provide data to the Chinese government upon request. Huawei did not respond to a request for comment.
Last year, U.S. and European officials said they were working on a plan to jointly fund digital infrastructure in developing countries to block Chinese funding.
The Financial Times reported that EU authorities are considering a mandatory ban on Huawei products in 5G networks. The 2020 EU guidelines recommend security safeguards such as using multiple suppliers, but not a complete ban on Huawei products.
Fick said more policies in the U.S. and Europe are likely to reflect growing awareness of the risks of using products from Huawei and other Chinese telecom companies.
Email Catherine Stupp (catherine.stupp@wsj.com).
Copyright ©2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All rights reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
