We welcome the European Commission’s proposal for regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the EU. The proposed Regulation for AI will help ensure protection of fundamental rights of persons with disabilities in the context of new technologies. The Regulation can also help promote AI that will improve accessibility for persons with disabilities and support their participation in society. To ensure this, however, the Commission proposal needs significant improvements with strong safeguards against potential discrimination by AI systems and practices, and proactive measures to promote AI that will benefit accessibility and equality of persons with disabilities. In particular, the EU AI regulation must ensure:
- Accessibility of AI-based technologies and practices for persons with disabilities;
- Protect persons with disabilities form potential AI-induced harm, including from any risk to their right to non-discrimination and equality, privacy and data protection;
- Strong governance mechanisms, human rights impact assessment, and accessible feedback, complaints and redress mechanisms;
- The same legal standards for European AI used outside of the EU;
- Involvement of persons with disabilities and accessibility experts in the development of European and national AI policies, as well as promote their inclusion in AI projects and technical development teams.