Pascal Pichonnaz (Chair; ELI President; Professor, University of Fribourg) welcomed the speakers and the audience and delivered opening remarks, introducing the ELI Innovation Paper on Guiding Principles for Automated Decision-Making in the EU.

Author of the Innovation Paper, Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballell (ELI Executive Committee Member; Professor, Carlos III University of Madrid) presented it and the principles developed therein. She focused on definitions, actors involved in Automated Decision-Making (ADM) and the first two principles.

Dirk Staudenmayer (Head of the Contract Law Unit, Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission) delivered reflections on the consequences of AI autonomy as a paradigm shift in private law. The question now is whether current laws are adequate or whether new laws are needed. Staudenmayer added that the paper would be beneficial for legislators.

Marc Rotenberg (President, Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP); Adjunct Professor, Georgetown Law) praised the paper and the policy behind it. His presentation focused in particular on the interaction between Principles 5 and 6, Principle 9 and Principle 11. He drew attention to the key consideration that, in some instances, the ELI Principles may require the prohibition of certain AI applications. In this context, he also outlined the Universal Guidelines for AI that he was involved in drafting.

The presentations were followed by a lively Q&A session with participants.

Teresa Rodríguez de las Heras Ballell’s PowerPoint slides are available for download here and the webinar recording can be viewed below