BRUSSELS, Sept 28 (Reuters) - The European Commission on Wednesday proposed rules making it easier for individuals and companies to sue makers of drones, robots and other products equipped with artificial intelligence software for compensation for harm caused by them. The AI Liability Directive aims to address the increasing use of AI-enabled products and services and the patchwork of national rules across the 27-country European Union. Under the draft rules, victims can seek compensation for harm to their life, property, health and privacy due to the fault or omission of a provider, developer or user of AI technology, or for discrimination in a recruitment process using AI. "We want the same level of protection for victims of damage caused by AI as for victims of old technologies," Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders told a news conference. The rules lighten the burden of proof on victims with a "presumption of causality", which means victims only need to show that a manufacturer or user's failure to comply with certain requirements caused the harm and then link this to the AI technology in their lawsuit.

The European Union unveiled proposals Wednesday to regulate artificial intelligence that call for strict rules and safeguards on risky applications of the rapidly developing technology. The report is part of the bloc's wider digital strategy aimed at maintaining its position as the global pacesetter on technological standards. Big tech companies seeking to tap Europe's vast and lucrative market, including those from the U.S. and China, would have to play by any new rules that come into force. The EU's executive Commission said it wants to develop a "framework for trustworthy artificial intelligence." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had ordered her top deputies to come up with a coordinated European approach to artificial intelligence and data strategy 100 days after she took office in December. "We will be particularly careful where essential human rights and interests are at stake," von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels.

Just-released proposals out of Europe that call for new rules to regulate high-risk artificial intelligence systems provide another marker for U.S. insurers and regulators as they consider the opportunities and risks of this evolving technology, industry experts say. The proposals and accompanying data strategy unveiled Feb. 19 are part of the EU's broader digital strategy aimed at setting global standards on technological development that put people first. In its report, the European Commission says that while artificial intelligence can bring advances by tackling climate change and making production more efficient, it also "entails a number of risks, such as opaque decision-making, gender-based or other kinds of discrimination, intrusion in our private lives, or being used for criminal purposes." Jon Godfread, insurance commissioner for North Dakota, said the policy document is "another fencepost and guideline that we can all take a look at" as international discussions on how to regulate artificial intelligence continue to develop. The EU's risk-based regulatory approach outlined in the report says clear rules are needed for high-risk artificial intelligence systems in recruitment, health care, transport, energy and law enforcement so that they are "transparent, traceable and guarantee human oversight."

LONDON – The European Union is unveiling proposals to regulate artificial intelligence that call for strict rules and safeguards on risky applications of the emerging technology. The report on artificial intelligence released Wednesday is part of the bloc's wider digital strategy aimed at maintaining its position as the global pacesetter on technological standards. The EU's executive Commission said it wants to develop a "framework for trustworthy artificial intelligence." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had ordered her top deputies to come up with a coordinated European approach to artificial intelligence and data strategy 100 days after she took office in December. Clear rules are needed to address "high-risk AI systems" such as those in health, policing or transport, which should be "transparent, traceable and guarantee human oversight," the EU said.