Big tech too influential over AI standards, warns report

Big tech companies are disproportionately involved in the drafting of EU recognized standards for artificial intelligence tools, a report by campaign group Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) claimed. 

The report identified that more than half (55%) of the 143 members taking part in the joint technical committee on AI (JTC21) – set up by the European standardisation bodies CEN and CENELEC – represent companies or consultancies, with 54 of the former and 24 of the latter.

Of those, almost 25% are corporate representatives from US companies, including four members each from Microsoft and IBM, two from Amazon and at least three from Google. 

By contrast, the participation of civil society is limited: making up only 9% of JTC21 members, which, according to CEO, raises concerns about inclusivity in the standard-setting process.

The AI Act, the world’s first attempt to regulate AI via a risk-based approach, was approved last August and the provisions will gradually start to apply. 

The European Commission asked CEN-CELENEC and ETSI in May of 2023 to prepare the underlying standards for industry, which will apply to products ranging from medical devices to toys. With those harmonised standards, a company can ensure that its product complies with the essential safety requirements set out in EU rules. 

"The European Commission's decision to delegate public policymaking on AI to a private body is deeply problematic. For the first time, standard setting is being used to implement requirements related to fundamental rights, fairness, trustworthiness and bias,” says Bram Vranken, Corporate Europe Observatory researcher and