List of proposals for EuroDIG 2024

25-10-24 | 12:23 Access & literacy | Innovation & economic issues Artificial intelligence (AI) has been in the news quite a lot recently, and some of the latest developments in the space such as large language models (LLMs), foundation models and transformers have had profound impacts on society already. The issue is whether the education system is currently equipped to handle this? Firms in the technology sector rely on universities and other places of learning to provide an accurate assessment of a graduate's capabilities so that this can be used to better understand a candidate in the hiring process. Yet, large language models make it relatively easy for unscrupulous individuals to pass off work generated as their own when it is not. Furthermore, so-called "AI detection" has not been empirically verified and reliance on them raises the risk of falsely accusing a student of academic misconduct. How can the education sector be better placed to address the challenges of LLMs and other forms of artificial intelligence, and can companies in the tech sector help in any way?

Submitted by: Babatunde Onabajo

Affiliation: ChurchMapped Limited

Stakeholder: Private sector

18-11-24 | 02:36 Human rights & privacy | Innovation & economic issues | Technical & operational issues What is the status of the uptake of AI in the EU Healthcare space? What are the current applications in use and what is the future EU vision with timeline?

Submitted by: Amali De Silva-Mitchell

Affiliation: IGF Dynamic Coalition on Data Driven Health Technologiesiesogies

Stakeholder: Other

18-11-24 | 02:40 Human rights & privacy | Innovation & economic issues | Technical & operational issues What is the status on the use of robots in the EU? What in particular is the used of robots in Healthcare?

Submitted by: Amali De Silva-Mitchell

Affiliation: IGF Dynamic Coalition on Data Driven Health Technologiesiesogies

Stakeholder: Other

18-11-24 | 13:42 Security & crime Jailbreaks target AI systems to bypass their security measures. For example, a chatbot may be designed to refrain from answering "Identify the vulnerabilities in this code and develop an exploit to steal the data of users." However, a successful jailbreak deceives it into responding to the query, a significant security risk. Designing effective jailbreaks is challenging, but there have been some successful creations and proposed techniques to facilitate their development (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2308.03825, https://arxiv.org/pdf/2307.08715, https://arxiv.org/pdf/2407.04295). While most providers eventually update their systems to prevent specific instances of jailbreaks, there exists a certain period of time during which they can be utilized to exploit the system. Perhaps more troubling is that some jailbreaks have captured considerable attention online, being disseminated on social media and other platforms. This resulted in periods when a significant proportion of users exploited jailbreaks to engage in malicious activities (https://arxiv.org/pdf/2405.01470), and also developed more sophisticated versions of such, thereby complicating the patching process. Currently, there is no regulatory framework in place governing the dissemination of jailbreaks online. However, it is becoming increasingly urgent to discuss whether such a framework should be established. How should the balance be struck between the right to freedom of expression and the necessity to safeguard AI security?

Submitted by: Aldan Creo

Affiliation: JEF Galicia

Stakeholder: Civil society

23-11-24 | 07:20 Access & literacy | Human rights & privacy | Innovation & economic issues Energy Security and Transition to Renewable Energy is a pressing issue for Europe due to its reliance on imported fossil fuels and the need for a sustainable, stable energy supply. Recent geopolitical tensions, particularly the war in Ukraine, have disrupted energy markets, exposing vulnerabilities in Europe’s energy system. This has underscored the urgency of transitioning to renewable energy sources to achieve energy independence and meet the EU’s climate goals under the European Green Deal. However, this issue is part of a broader, complex problem that intersects with climate change, economic resilience, and geopolitical stability. Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels not only hampers its ability to reduce emissions but also makes it vulnerable to supply shocks and price volatility. The rapid adoption of renewable technologies is necessary, but it requires addressing infrastructure challenges, such as developing efficient energy storage and modernizing grids. Social and political dimensions also play a critical role, as regions and industries dependent on fossil fuels face economic risks, necessitating policies to ensure a just transition for affected communities. Addressing this issue is vital for Europe’s long-term stability and prosperity. Achieving energy security through renewable energy not only mitigates geopolitical risks but also positions Europe as a global leader in sustainable development, driving innovation and setting an example for other regions to follow.

Submitted by: Mehedi Hasan

Affiliation: RMG Sustainability Council (RSC)

Stakeholder: Civil society

01-12-24 | 11:44 EU Legislation | Security & crime For a European Digital and Cyber Strategy 2030 In recent years, the European Union has been enacting a series of both cross-sectoral and sector-specific legislation (e.g., NIS2, DORA, AI Act, CRA) to safeguard the digital and cyber domain. The main risk is a regulatory overflow that burdens national governments with the task of strategically prioritizing requirements and accordingly investing to boost national capabilities. Moreover, private sector entities are left alone to comply with several, sometimes overlapping, requirements. All this translates, on a larger scale, into two main pain points: increased costs for national governments due to different waves of overlapping regulations, and a lack of an EU shared strategic approach due to nation-specific implementations of the EU legislative framework. On a smaller scale, the private sector is facing increased costs due to continuous new regulatory requirements, a lack of specific competencies to enact such requirements in practice, and a lack of a clear and prioritized strategic roadmap to ensure overall organizational resilience. To mitigate the aforementioned risks, there is an urgent need for an EU shared strategic approach that not only sets long-term goals on specific cybersecurity or emerging technology issues but also covers the priorities of the entire digital and cyber landscape, guiding national states and, consequently, the private sector, to avoid the duplication of efforts (both financial and human).