Ethics of Big Data and AI in Frontier Research – ERCEA Perspective
Tue-02
Presented by: Valeria Croce
Abstract
The European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) would wish to contribute to the Symposium with a presentation of the Agency’s approach to ethics in frontier research, with a focus on ethical aspects pertaining social science research and the use of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. The presentation will provide an overview of the ethics review and monitoring process developed by ERCEA, of the EU Open Science policy and of recent developments in the EU legislation on Artificial intelligence, with focus on aspects that are of particular interest for scientific research. The presentation will also cover emerging trends in research ethics observed by ERCEA, with ethical and legal considerations for specific case examples involving the use of big data technologies and AI, such as the use of web data or of data from illicit sources. We believe this presentation will offer an opportunity to discuss principles that can guide researchers embrace an ‘ethics by design’ approach in support of an open and ethical use of data and to promote trust in scientific research.
Background
The European Research Council (ERC) is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. A dedicated Executive Agency (ERCEA) is in charge of implementing the strategy set up by the independent Scientific Council, the ERC governing body consisting of distinguished researchers.
Research ethics plays a critical role in articulating the relationship between science, innovation and society. Under EU framework programmes, all research and innovation activities must comply with ethical principles and relevant national, European Union and international legislation. Ethics is especially important in the context of the scientific research funded by the ERC as it seeks to expand in fundamental ways the limits of scientific knowledge through innovative high risk-high gain research. The high-risk and innovative nature of research can raise complex ethical questions, including in areas where relevant legislation is lacking or in development, as for instance in the domain of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
To match the high-risk high-gains in terms of the ethics, the ERC Executive Agency has in place a thorough ethics review and monitoring process that supports ERC researchers in living up to their legal obligations to carry out research in compliance with Horizon Europe rules, ethical principles and relevant legislation.
The European Research Council Executive Agency (ERCEA) would wish to contribute to the Symposium with a presentation of the Agency’s approach to ethics in frontier research, with a focus on ethical aspects pertaining social science research and the use of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. The presentation will provide an overview of the ethics review and monitoring process developed by ERCEA, of the EU Open Science policy and of recent developments in the EU legislation on Artificial intelligence, with focus on aspects that are of particular interest for scientific research. The presentation will also cover emerging trends in research ethics observed by ERCEA, with ethical and legal considerations for specific case examples involving the use of big data technologies and AI, such as the use of web data or of data from illicit sources. We believe this presentation will offer an opportunity to discuss principles that can guide researchers embrace an ‘ethics by design’ approach in support of an open and ethical use of data and to promote trust in scientific research.
Background
The European Research Council (ERC) is the premier European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. A dedicated Executive Agency (ERCEA) is in charge of implementing the strategy set up by the independent Scientific Council, the ERC governing body consisting of distinguished researchers.
Research ethics plays a critical role in articulating the relationship between science, innovation and society. Under EU framework programmes, all research and innovation activities must comply with ethical principles and relevant national, European Union and international legislation. Ethics is especially important in the context of the scientific research funded by the ERC as it seeks to expand in fundamental ways the limits of scientific knowledge through innovative high risk-high gain research. The high-risk and innovative nature of research can raise complex ethical questions, including in areas where relevant legislation is lacking or in development, as for instance in the domain of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
To match the high-risk high-gains in terms of the ethics, the ERC Executive Agency has in place a thorough ethics review and monitoring process that supports ERC researchers in living up to their legal obligations to carry out research in compliance with Horizon Europe rules, ethical principles and relevant legislation.