AIG Newsletter 1 July 2024

News

In this week's edition: The EC hosts high-level meeting for the upcoming AI Board, while a leaked EC briefing book outlines comprehensive digital regulations. The EDPB elects a new Deputy Chair and Hungary outlines its priorities for the EU Council Presidency. DG CONNECT hosts a meeting of the European Board for Digital Services, and VP Jourová strenghtens EU-Japan cooperation on data flows. The Council approves additional procedural rules for GDPR enforcement, and EVP Vestager stresses DMA importance. Finally, the JHA Council adopts conclusions protecting democracy and media freedom. 

EC HOSTS HIGH-LEVEL MEETING FOR THE UPCOMING EU AI BOARD

On 19 June, the AI Board convened a meeting to discuss key aspects of the AI Act's implementation. The agenda included deliberations on the Board's strategic vision and role, national approaches to AI governance and supervision, initial priorities for implementing the AI Act, and the Board's organisational structure. The AI Act is expected to come into force in early August and the Board is set to reconvene again shortly after.

EC'S BRIEFING BOOK ON DIGITAL ECONOMY LEAKED

The leaked Commission briefing book highlights the EU's efforts to address challenges arising from digital technologies through its regulatory framework, which includes the DSA, DMA, and AI Act. Key initiatives include the EU Digital Identity Wallet, cybersecurity measures, and data governance regulations. The book emphasised the need to achieve Digital Decade objectives, implement new regulatory tools effectively, and establish the EC as a competent online platforms and AI regulator. It called for rigorous enforcement of digital rights and obligations, and regulating digital advertising. 

EDPB ELECTS NEW DEPUTY CHAIR 

On 19 June, Zdravko Vukić, Director of the Croatian Personal Data Protection Agency, was electedDeputy Chair of the EDPB. In his acceptance statement, Vukić committed to enhancing enforcement cooperation, addressing emerging challenges, and ensuring adequate staffing for DPAs and the EDPB Secretariat.

HUNGARY OUTLINES PRIORITIES FOR COUNCIL PRESIDENCY

On 18 June, Hungary's Minister for European Affairs, János Bóka, presented the country's priorities for its EU Council Presidency. Key priorities included the advancement of the European telecom sector, expansion of roaming regulations, implementation of the AI Act, and evaluation of the DSA and DMA. You can access the Presidency's website here.

DG CONNECT HOSTS MEETING OF DIGITAL SERVICES BOARD

On 20 June, DG CONNECT hosted the fifth European Board for Digital Services meeting. Digital Services Coordinators (DSCs) adopted the Board's Rules of Procedure. Discussions covered lessons from EU Elections, DSC empowerment, Disinformation and Hate Speech Codes of Conduct, and DSA Article 28 guidelines. The next meeting is set for 12 July.

EU-JAPAN DISCUSS COOPERATION ON SAFE DATA FLOWS 

On 20 June, Vice-President Věra Jourová met with Shizuo Fujiwara, Chairperson of Japan's Personal Information Protection Commission. They discussed both the successful EU-Japan mutual adequacy arrangementand progress in expanding the EU's adequacy decision for Japan. Both committed to accelerating work on these matters and to continue promoting high data protection standards internationally.  

COUNCIL APPROVES ADDITIONAL PROCEDURAL RULES FOR GDPR ENFORCEMENT

On 13 June, the Council approved a general approach relating to a proposal laying down additional procedural rules for the enforcement of the GDPR. This general approach will serve as the mandate for negotiations with the EP as part of the ordinary legislative procedure. The proposal aims to support the smooth functioning and timely completion of enforcement procedures in cases of cross-border processing, harmonise parties' procedural rights, streamlining cooperation between supervisory authorities as well as outlining details for a dispute resolution mechanism. 

EXECUTIVE VP VESTAGER TALKS UP THE DMA

During her speech on 24 June at the European Competition Network Conference, Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager emphasised that the DMA aims to make digital markets more open and fair by addressing issues of contestability and fairness in the digital sector. Vestager highlighted the continued relevance of antitrust and merger control in digital markets, and called for further cooperation from all sides.

JHA COUNCIL ADOPTS CONCLUSIONS PROTECTING DEMOCRACY & MEDIA FREEDOM

On 14 June, the Justice & Home Affairs (JHA) Council adopted conclusions on safeguarding free, open, and informed democratic debate. Commissioner Jourová outlined various EU tools to address threats to election and democratic discourse, including the DSA, anti-disinformation code, and AI Act. She called for greater social media platform accountability, support for public media, and the importance of the media freedom act in protecting democratic processes and media freedom.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

01 July: Spatial (Security and Privacy Accountable Technology Innovations, Algorithms, and Machine Learning) project's final event (Australo)

02 July: The Modelling, Data Analytics and AI in Engineering Conference (Madeai)

05 July: The Digital Europe Programme 7th Call on Advanced Digital Skills Info Day & pitching (EC)

09 July: The Past, Present and Future of UK Cyber Statecraft(RUSI)

Stand: 01.07.2024