European Commission Launches Research Unit to Investigate Algorithms Used by Big Tech

The European Commission has taken a significant step towards regulating Big Tech by launching a new research unit called the European Centre for Algorithmic Transparency (ECAT). The primary focus of ECAT is to investigate the impact of algorithms made and used by prominent online platforms and search engines such as Facebook and Google. The team will analyze and evaluate the AI-backed algorithms used by Big Tech firms to identify and address any potential risks posed by these platforms.

The European Union’s existing Joint Research Centre will embed ECAT, which conducts research on a broad range of subjects including artificial intelligence. The team will consist of data scientists, AI experts, social scientists, and legal experts. The group’s focus will be to conduct algorithmic accountability and transparency audits, as required by the Digital Services Act, a set of European Union rules enforceable as of Nov. 16, 2022.

AI-based programs are built using a series of complex algorithms, meaning ECAT will also be looking at algorithms that underpin AI chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which some believe could eventually replace search engines. The team will examine the algorithms used by Big Tech firms to ensure that they are transparent and that their operations do not harm users.

According to Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, ECAT will “look under the hood” of large search engines and online platforms to “see how their algorithms function and contribute to the spread of illegal and harmful content.” This move by the European Commission is a significant development in regulating Big Tech firms, and it will ensure that these companies are held accountable for the impact of their algorithms on society.

The development of AI has been a contentious issue, with nearly a dozen EU politicians calling for the “safe” development of AI in a signed open letter on April 16. The lawmakers asked United States President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to convene a summit on AI and agree on a set of governing principles for the development, control, and deployment of the tech.

Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk also expressed his concerns about the development of AI. He argued on an April 17 Fox News interview that AI chatbots like ChatGPT have a left-wing bias and said that he was developing an alternative called “TruthGPT.” This move by Musk highlights the growing concerns about the ethical implications of AI and its impact on society.

In conclusion, the launch of ECAT by the European Commission is a significant development in regulating Big Tech firms. It will ensure that these companies are held accountable for the impact of their algorithms on society, and it will also help to identify and address any potential risks posed by these platforms. The team of experts at ECAT will play a vital role in conducting algorithmic accountability and transparency audits to ensure that the algorithms used by Big Tech firms are transparent and do not harm users.