In March 2024, Culture Action Europe (CAE) and Michael Culture Association (MCA) are forming an Action Group on Digital and AI. Members of both networks are invited to join the Action Group that will regular meetings and workshops.

Considering the ongoing conversations inside and outside of the network around data protection, AI, digital ethics and the digital transition, this action group aims to identify sector-specific needs and advocate for strong digital policies, safeguarding the working conditions of artists amid increasing digitisation and AI processes and bringing the Digital Cultural Heritage community’s needs and expertise to the political stage. We believe that the cultural ecosystem is a crucial component of a shared digital future and propose actions that position the sector in an empowered role to contribute to a more human-centered approach to digital policies.

Join us for the first planned meetings facilitated by CAE and MCA. The Action Group on Digital and AI will have the objective of advocating for the two communities put together. We will achieve this through the use of needs-analysis surveys, policy recommendations, and joint statements to advocate effectively. We believe in bottom-up approaches to assess cultural sector needs and guide shared advocacy efforts.

We will focus on:

• ETHICS: In the face of constantly emerging new scenarios, opening new possibilities for the cultural and cultural heritage sectors, there are ethical challenges to be addressed now and in the future. The presence and creation of deceptive or manipulative cultural and creative content pose a risk not only to the sector but especially to our democracies. Finally, the biases embedded in the creation of digital tools and GPAI models perpetuate and amplify a situation of narrow cultural representation. Prioritisation of values over efficiency and profit, transparency and accountability in data management and promotion of cultural diversity and cultural representation in the digital realm are at the center of this section.
• COPYRIGHT: While progress has been made in protecting intellectual property and copyright for cultural workers through recent legislation, significant challenges persist. Unauthorized use and insufficient remuneration are widespread, with issues like digital piracy, unlicensed reproduction, and the impact of generative AI on creators’ rights remaining key concerns across the cultural and creative sectors.
• HUMAN-CENTERED DIGITAL: EU policies show a commitment to a human-centered digital transformation that respects fundamental rights, ethics, and inclusivity. However, to truly adopt this approach, digital policies must better involve CCS professionals and address the needs of all communities, especially marginalised ones, while also fostering community-driven solutions and advocating for greater representation in policy-making.
• ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: the AI Act is a first regulatory step. However, concerns about the Act’s Text and Data Mining exceptions, the absence of fair remuneration for right-holders, and the risk of cultural biases in AI algorithms underscore the need for an opt-in model and greater transparency, as well as widespread education on AI to empower the sector in navigating these technologies.

To learn more, read how the first workshops went down! 

Action Group Session #3 Thursday, October 24 11.00 – 12.15 CET Online

Register here.

CAE & MCA members only.