Citizens are and feel unprotected against artificial intelligence and algorithms, while at the same time regulations are being prepared for the safety of users in Cyprus and the EU. 50% of Cypriot citizens do not feel safe online, while one in two does not know their rights, said Frederick University professor Konstantinos Kouroupis, citing recent Eurobarometer data.
The challenges of technology for society, in view of the digital transformation, were examined by the Human Rights Committee with the aim of formulating a Cyprus Charter of Digital Rights.
For his part, the Deputy Minister of Innovation, Nicodemus Damianou, said that it is normal for there to be concern and it is normal for new actions to be taken.
As he said, high on the Government's priorities are some actions, starting with the regulation on technical intelligence (AI Act).
"The competent authorities have been determined and the study on how we will organize ourselves to be able to respond to this demanding regulation is in the completion phase. We are talking about a regulation which is the first in the world, which attempts to regulate the risks from artificial intelligence and was in the context of our Presidency one of the issues we managed, even managing to incorporate new provisions concerning the safety of young people, mainly for those cases where technical intelligence algorithms produce content not suitable for minors", he said.
In the next two weeks, the Deputy Minister said, the new strategy for artificial intelligence, which specifically and intentionally focuses on the human-centred approach, will be ready for consultation.
"We are moving forward with our intention to establish a framework for the safety of minors on the internet. We have said that the government is proposing to set the limit of 15 years as the limit for someone to be able to access the internet. At the moment, the framework is being prepared, it is in its final stages, a public consultation will follow and around the end of the year, around November, we expect that we will be ready to proceed with the legislative regulations."
In addition, he said, there is the Digital Services Regulation, the Digital Services Act, which is essentially the core of what Europe is trying to regulate citizens' online safety.
We do not have a bill on Artificial Intelligence, it was pointed out on behalf of the Legal Service, as an extension was received in the EU for the discussion of some regulations.
The regulation, as mentioned, has been amended by a multitude of other legislations. "A better concentration of existing legislation that enshrines rights on the internet is needed, so that the citizen knows what concerns him and where to turn. The EU regulation focuses on high-risk AI systems and mandates a risk assessment before it becomes operational. In addition, it calls for human supervision." noted.
Accessibility for all is paramount
The importance of accessibility by all was underlined on behalf of the office of the Commissioner for Administration. On accessibility, especially for vulnerable people, the office has submitted two reports. What was found is that people with disabilities do not have access or need the intervention of other people. "Digitization must be accessible and that is why we asked for more education, simplification of procedures and operation of call centers that will operate," he underlined.
On the part of the Office of the Commissioner for Administration, concerns were also expressed about the risks of discrimination in the use of artificial intelligence. At the moment there is no framework that defines which human rights must be protected, it was clarified.
The Commissioner for Personal Data Protection, Maria Christofidou, said that they are called upon to bring about the balance between privacy, transparency, security of the citizen. The issues they examine concern both the use of citizens' personal data and the use of the internet by minors.
The Commissioner for Communications and the political head of the Digital Security Authority (DSA), Marios Pieri, said that they are working on the regulation to protect dangerous practices related to artificial intelligence. "I'm worried that diagnoses are made through AI. We know that it is applied in diagnostic centers in Cyprus."
The new director of the Radio and Television Authority, who acts as the national coordinator for Digital Services, Irini Loizidou, said that she has started audits with the providers to see if they are compliant.
Panikos Pourgourides, Head of the Representation of the European Commission, noted that the philosophy that pervades digital policy is that rights will be ensured on and off the internet and that digitization will be human-centred.
Right you have offline to have online
Respect for rights was put forward on behalf of the Cyprus Bar Association. The regulation under consideration, it was mentioned, is a useful guide for artificial intelligence and digital transformation.
However, he stood by a declaration with the principle that "any right you have offline you will also have online". The idea is to enjoy the same rights in the digital world. For example, it was mentioned, during digitization a service must be understood, accessible, know what user data is given and when there is access to it. "In Estonia, at any time the citizen knows who has access to his data and when an agency has access to it. Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, should not be excluded. Every service must be easy to use, can be understood by everyone and can be controlled by a human," said the representative of the Bar Association.
One in two Cypriots ignores their rights
The data presented by Professor Konstantinos Kouroupis of Frederick University, from a survey by the European Commission last March, on the subject of the digital consciousness of Europeans, were extremely serious.
"In it, it emerged that the majority of Cypriots believe that digitization makes their lives easier and are in favour. At the same time, however, 50% of Cypriots are sceptical of the effectiveness of their protection, while one in two is not aware of their rights in the digital environment."
Mr. Kouroupis said that there are also positives from artificial intelligence, but shielding is needed.
One proposal, he said, is to have digital constitutionalism, a concept that is increasingly used in states, and means adopting regulations to set limits on technology, placing people at the center.
Professor Haris Xinari from the European University Cyprus said that it is not enough to have laws. "Implementing them is something else, as is having training."
Professor of the University of Cyprus, Costas Paraskeva, expressed concern, while Professor Theognosia Kouspi from the University of Nicosia, said in relation to good administration that even if the use of artificial intelligence in the public service is not widespread, it is at an individual level among employees.
The examples of other countries
The President of the Committee, Christos Christofides, spoke about an issue of great importance that "concerns how human rights are protected in the age of artificial intelligence, algorithms and digital life".
Decisions that affect our lives are increasingly being made by algorithms, he said.
"The European Union has adopted the Declaration on Digital Rights and Digital Principles, and with the Artificial Intelligence Regulation it has established the world's first comprehensive regulatory framework. The Council of Europe has gone even further, with the new Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law."
At the same time, Mr. Christofides said, states such as Spain have formulated a Digital Rights Charter, Estonia is pioneering digital public services with an emphasis on citizens' rights, while Finland and France are developing specialized policies for digital education and the protection of children online.
Among other things, he said, the rights of citizens to know when a decision is made by an algorithm, when a video is a product of artificial intelligence, must be protected. The right of all citizens to digital education, cybersecurity, accessibility and universal participation in the digital society.
Our goal is to launch a broad public and institutional consultation that will lead to the formulation of a Cyprus Charter of Digital Rights.
To ensure that technology serves people and not the other way around.
