On February 28, 2023, Working Group lll (Rural Development and Consumer Protection) organized within the framework of Convention the next session focusing on the challenges of consumer protection relation to Artificial Intelligence Advancements.

Gledis Gjipali/Executive Director of EMA in his opening remarks  thanked the attendees and spoke about the relevance of consumer protection and the lack of public awareness regarding the use of artificial intelligence in this field.

Jeta Deda, General Director of the National Food Authority appreciated the organization of the session and stated that the National Food Authority has dedicated an increased attention to the consumer and one of the ways to make it more proactive is to use the green number. Deda, also mentioned the establishment of a traceability system for the electronic address for complaints and requests as well as the launch of a digitalization campaign as part of an EU-funded project. She added that all social networks have turned into an online window to be closer to the consumer as they are more interested on announcement related to food alerts.

Granit Sokolaj, the Executive Director of the ALERT Center, held a presentation on the daily consumer risks derived from food products or non-food materials and elaborated more on the risks that come from the use of artificial intelligence. He commented more on law No. 9918 / 2008 “On electronic and postal communications in the Republic of Albania”; law No. 9902/2018 “On consumer protection” (changed) and regulation No. 49, dated 11.03.2021 on “Protection of the line and subscribers of all public electronic communications”. Sokolaj pointed out that Albania needs to strengthen institutional capacities for the widest possible scope and with a focus on AI systems with high risk. He emphasized that basic principles and obligations such as justice, accountability and transparency should be followed. They should also have the right to complain to a national authority and take legal action when an AI system or practice affecting them violates the law. Sokolaj said that AI is programming, coding, which is written and interacts with the people who use it, noting that our data can be used by others and that in Albania, unlike in the EU awareness is very low.

Zuzana Motúzová from Motúzová & Lacko Law company/Slovakia talked about building and using AI systems for a positive impact on consumers. She said that the use of AI can also have negative effects such as inequality, manipulation, data misuse, consumer discrimination, etc. Motúzová explained the EU legislation in this field specificially: Consumer Rights Directive 2011/83/EU; the Directive on electronic commerce ; Unfair Contract Terms Directive 2019/2161; GDPR and protection of data and privacy etc. She also talked about the Slovak legislation on consumer protection when selling goods or providing services on the basis of a contract concluded at a distance or a contract concluded outside the seller’s premises. Motúzová commented more on Law No. 294/1999 Coll., on liability for damage caused by a defective product (Product Safety Act). This Act applies to all products sold in Slovakia, including those that are powered by or incorporate AI. Moreover, Motúzová elaborated on the European Commission’s proposal of September 28, 2022 for a regulation that divides the risks arising from AI into 4 categories: (Unacceptable risk- AI systems that violate EU values ​​and fundamental rights; High risk- the use of AI in border controls, private and public services, in education, etc.; Limited risk- increased transparency and Minimal risk- for game applications) She concluded her presentation with some suggestions for revising legislation related to AI, specifying customer rights in relation to AI in cases where it is not clear, prohibition criteria for price discrimination by merchants and service providers etc.

The open discussion focused on the lack of strategies at the national level for consumer protection from the negative effects of AI; sources of information where citizens can get information about AI risks; the ways in which stakeholders can give their contribution for the improvement of the legislation and recently the data on complaints regarding AI damages in Albania.

***The National Convention on European Integration is being implemented by the EMA in cooperation with the Slovak Foreign Policy Association and the financial support of SlovakAid.