Crucial digital policy legislation being drawn up at EU level such as the AI Act, which is the first attempt worldwide to regulate AI systems specifically, will rely heavily on technical standards. Protecting consumer privacy, autonomy and dignity will depend on technical standardisation, and how European standardisation organisations will interpret and implement legal concepts related to fundamental rights. This raises serious concerns among civil society representatives, given that standardisation organisations do not have the necessary institutional, procedural, and substantive governance structure to address related questions, such as what constitutes unwanted bias in AI-system decisions.

While contributing to the drafting of AI standards within the current system, ANEC and BEUC are also working to change how the standardisation system operates. This dual approach enables the two organisations to have an immediate impact on ongoing standardisation activities while working on long-term solutions to correct the flaws of the system.

Changing the system

• Legal study to analyse the current European standardisation system and its limits in the context of digital policies (published on 14 July 2023)

• ANEC-BEUC policy paper to provide recommendations on the European standardisation system and follow-up advocacy campaign

Working within the current system

• An expert starts attending AI standardisation working groups to represent the consumer viewpoint (ongoing activity led by ANEC)

• Holding of two webinars to engage a broader audience in standardisation, especially AI standardisation (first webinar on 29 June 2023 / second one expected for Q2 2024).

If you would like additional information on AI standardisation or want to get involved, please visit this page.

One of the main goals of the project is to increase the representation of consumer and civil society interests in standardisation initiatives and empower these citizen representatives to act in the societal interest. The project activities  are relevant to consumer organisations and more generally to all civil society organisationse concerned with AI technologies.

If you are interested in getting involved in AI standardisation, please visit this page where you will find all the relevant information.

This legal study commissioned by BEUC and ANEC (written by Professor Hans Micklitz, EUI) provides a pathway to reform the process by which harmonised technical standards are drawn up and the way standardisation bodies work so that they are better able to address these challenges. A line must be drawn between what must be done via EU legislation and what can be delegated to standardisation bodies. Finally, standardisation must better involve representatives of civil society and not only be driven by private, for-profit interests.

Among the studies’ suggestions is the elaboration of a ‘Standardisation Governance Act’, which would require the development of technical standards to include civil society representatives and comply with fundamental rights from the outset.

Interested in more details about the project?
Ready to engage in standardisation?

For any questions and further information about the project, please contact the team at digital@beuc.eu