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Nearly 60 non governmental organizations criticized the plan, highlighting what they see as gaps that could undermine the strength and fairness of AI regulation in the European Union. They argued that the proposed framework, now being shaped as the EU moves to regulate artificial intelligence, should be robust enough to protect fundamental rights while enabling innovation. The open letter, released this week, expresses alarm about how the technology could be misused and how that misuse might threaten democratic processes and individual freedoms if not properly addressed. Spain, set to preside over the Council of the European Union for the fifth time from July to December, is the focus of these concerns as its presidency continues the ongoing policy discussion.
Brussels has been guiding a long running effort to draft a comprehensive AI law. Critics say the timeline was slowed by the rapid rise of practical AI tools, including widely known applications that have captured public attention. The proposal classifies AI uses into several risk categories and imposes different rules based on how the technology is employed. It explicitly bans applications deemed to carry unacceptable risk, such as biometric surveillance and certain forms of face recognition, predictive policing, or deliberate manipulation. The signatories of the open letter urge lawmakers to broaden the list of systems that would fall into this top risk category so that more protections apply.
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One tier below is what is described as high risk AI, which encompasses technologies that could influence recruitment, lending, or other sensitive decision processes. The letter calls for removing discretionary influence in how these systems are classified and for introducing strong public accountability and transparency requirements for both public sector use and private sector developers of high risk AI. It is noted that, as early as 2021, a coalition of more than a hundred European NGOs contended that the existing rules did not provide enough safeguards to guarantee respect for human rights across the union.
The open letter urges guarantees for rights through a clear compensation mechanism for individuals who are adversely affected by AI systems. It also advocates greater civil society participation in the development of technical standards, with the aim of anchoring fundamental rights at the core of AI design and deployment. The authors stress that citizens should have meaningful input into how standards are created and how those standards shape the behavior of AI technologies in real world use. They argue that this inclusive approach can help ensure that protections keep pace with rapid technological change.
Among the organizations signing are LaFede.cat, Algorace, Eticas Foundation, CIVIO, Algorights, CECU, Catalonia Institute for Human Rights, and the TAS Observatory. They call on the Spanish government to arrange high level meetings with ministers and senior officials to discuss the path forward. The goal is to align national policy with EU level safeguards, while preserving the ability to foster responsible innovation that benefits society as a whole. The letter portrays a shared interest in balanced regulation that guards civil liberties without stifling technological progress.