The G7 Privacy meeting in Rome concluded with a focus on ensuring that the advancement of technologies, such as artificial intelligence, is accompanied by human-centred solutions that respect individual rights and the Constitution.
The three-day event brought together Personal Data Protection Authorities from Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with seven key documents being approved.
“We tried to reach agreement on the goals and methods to adopt in this phase of society’s evolution with countries with different systems,” said Pasquale Stanzione, President of the Italian Personal Data Protection Authority, alongside Vice President Ginevra Cerrina Feroni, during the presentation of the final declaration.
The G7 discussions extended beyond emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, also addressing the free circulation of data and the protection of minors. Stanzione highlighted the consensus on the importance of digital education for younger generations. “We all found each other in agreement that we need to develop an adequate digital pedagogy that convinces and, above all, encourages minors to use computers and smartphones consciously,” he said. He also warned: “We must make them aware that making statements on these devices means having them spread on the Web, and there is no right to be forgotten or de-indexing that can erase this element. The true reality is that of relationships. The reality of Alexa, Siri, and the metaverse is not true reality.”
Cerrina Feroni added “we are in the middle of a digital transition covering all sectors of public administration, from healthcare to education. Accompanying all sectors with continuous dialogue is a complex process because the digital transition affects all the rights and duties of citizens.”
Last month, former Italian PM Mario Draghi criticised the EU laws on AI. He argued they left the continent behind in tech progress.
AI a central theme of G7 Privacy
Artificial intelligence was a central theme of the G7 Privacy meeting. It was framed as a tool that must “amplify rights and freedoms and not become a source of new injustices, inequalities, or excessive concentrations of public or private power.” Feroni emphasised “the word that has been mentioned most over the last few days is ‘trustworthy’ AI. We found a very broad agreement on this.”
Stanzione also addressed the growing concerns around data protection on the Internet of Things (IoT). They stressed the importance of “maximum caution” regarding video surveillance, biometric data dissemination, and predictive justice. “The boundary between the need for security and respect for the human person is extremely fine,” he warned.
On the delicate balance between innovation and AI’s evolution, Stanzione said, “There is no opposition to progress, but it will probably be necessary to make specific legislation a little more flexible while keeping in mind the rigour of the Constitution.”
Stanzione and Cerrina Feroni concluded by stating the vital role privacy authorities will play in AI governance. “In this great new frontier of artificial intelligence, it is necessary to recognise the role, the acquired skills, and the independence that the privacy authorities will have to have in AI governance, regardless of political decisions. We hope that policymakers will be able to take in this valuable information.”
