- EU citizens share their views on the use of AI in everyday lies
- Younger citizens like to include this in democratic procedures
- Older citizens are more fearful and would not trust its use in elections
A new report from IE University in Madrid suggests a fair level of support for the implementation of AI in the areas of security and surveillance, with many Europeans in favor of using technologies such as facial recognition and biometrics.
However, concerns about the role of AI in elections and public decision-making highlight the complex relationship between trust in AI and fear of manipulation.
According to the survey, 75% of respondents support the use of AI technologies by police and military. Given Europe’s strict data privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the fear of authorities or AI misusing data is much lower than would be the case in the US. The GDPR imposes severe penalties for non-compliance, with fines of up to 4% of a company’s annual turnover or €20 million, whichever is higher.
The fear of manipulation persists
While many Europeans are comfortable with the use of AI in public administration and security, they express strong concerns about its impact on elections. The report shows that 67% of respondents fear that AI could manipulate democratic processes, especially by spreading misinformation.
Furthermore, almost a third (31%) of Europeans believe AI has already played a role in shaping their voting decisions, underscoring the growing influence of these technologies in political campaigns.
Public enthusiasm for the use of AI in some areas, such as traffic management, is high, with 79% of respondents supporting its use in optimizing transportation systems. However, opinions are changing when AI is applied to more sensitive tasks, such as determining parole outcomes. 64% are against its involvement in judicial matters.
The younger generation, aged 18 to 34, is more open to the idea of delegating political decisions to AI and around 34% of respondents in this age group said they would trust an AI-powered app to vote on their behalf.
Only 29% of people aged 35 to 44 would consider using AI to cast their vote. Skepticism is even greater among older adults, with only 9% of people age 65 and older willing to trust AI in the voting process.
Via CNBC
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