Analyse
The claim aligns with the **European Commission’s official proposal** for the AI Act (April 2021), which explicitly frames AI as a tool to serve societal goals while mitigating risks (e.g., bias, surveillance, safety). Von der Leyen’s emphasis on 'trustworthy AI' mirrors the **EU’s 2019 Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI**, which prioritize human oversight, transparency, and fundamental rights. Her call for a 'regulatory framework' directly previews the AI Act’s risk-based classification system (e.g., bans on social scoring, high-risk AI obligations). No evidence suggests the statement misrepresents the EU’s policy intent at the time.
Achtergrond
The **EU AI Act**, proposed in April 2021, was the first comprehensive legal framework for AI globally, aiming to balance innovation with fundamental rights protection. It builds on prior EU initiatives like the **2018 AI Strategy** and **2019 Ethics Guidelines**, which stressed human-centric AI governance. Von der Leyen, as Commission President, consistently framed AI regulation as a tool to enforce EU values (e.g., democracy, privacy) in technological development.
Samenvatting verdict
Ursula von der Leyen’s 2021 statement accurately reflects the EU’s stated goals for the AI Act, emphasizing human-centric, trustworthy AI aligned with EU values and regulations.