By Francesco Cappelletti, Senior Policy and Research Officer, European Liberal Forum The European Union aims to be a global leader in AI regulation. Artificial Intelligence has the potential to revolutionise various sectors but also comes with significant risks that require comprehensive regulation.  In a world where all technologies advance quickly because and together with AI, what kind of future are we aiming for? How much regulation does AI need? Artificial intelligence fascinates due to its efficiency and ability to outperform humans in many tasks, leading to debates on its op ..read more

By Francesco Cappelletti, Senior Policy and Research Officer, European Liberal Forum As Europe grapples with the evolution of 5G and anticipates the emergence of 6G technologies, discussions on the continent’s digital transformation and connectivity have intensified. In the face of the challenges and the ever-evolving digital landscape, how can Europe leverage its collective strengths to not only bridge the connectivity gap but also lead the way in shaping the future of telecommunications on the global stage? The evolution of 5G and the onset of 6G technologies in the European telecommuni ..read more

By Francesco Cappelletti, Senior Policy and Research Officer, European Liberal Forum Exploring how emerging technologies tackle energy challenges, especially in aviation sustainability, is crucial for both the decarbonisation of the sector and the European Commission’s clean transition goals. However, to do so, the European Union faces a series of challenges, from a lack of investment and a unified approach to striking a new balance between public and private sector roles. The aviation sector is one of the most challenging industries for decarbonisation efforts. The EU aims to make aviati ..read more

By Zeger Vercouteren, VP Governmental Affairs & Policy, EMEA, Johnson & Johnson The last major updates to our general pharmaceutical framework were in the early 2000s.  As we heard during the presentation of the draft ENVI reports last week, the legislation must keep pace with the advancements of tomorrow. We need a solid legal framework that will provide certainty for research and adaptability for future challenges.  This revision is therefore a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the life sciences ecosystem in Europe and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is fully aligne ..read more

Francesco Cappelletti, Senior Policy and Research Officer If you’re captivated by dystopian tales of technology gone awry, brace yourself for a reality check. It’s only a matter of time before someone starts questioning whether we should be willing to unleash the full potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI), “whatever it takes”. The question isn’t whether AI has potential — it’s how we harness it safely and equitably.  The debate on artificial intelligence has reached new heights over the past few years, thanks to the famous language model tool developed on a machine learning en ..read more

Information today – all kinds of data and knowledge, ideas, facts, news, opinions, as well as political images, messages, and symbols – are all exchanged at the intersection of technology and politics. Political ads online: what is the price of transparency? In this regard, technology can shape democratic processes and political outcomes. The rise of techno-politics means that as people get informed and make decisions via computer networks, social media platforms and big tech companies play a significant role in political campaigning and elections. For this reason, the EU is pre ..read more

ISSN: 2736-6065 Blog Post by Ricardo Silvestre, International Officer at Movimento Liberal Social London Calling is the European Liberal Forum’s column aimed at bridging the Channel.  Until recently, I have been sympathetic to the idea of an independent Scotland, breaking its historical ties with the United Kingdom (UK) and, with that, potentially becoming a member state of the European Union (EU). I studied the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, particularly due to the alleged Russian interference. It was obvious from the analysis of the results that, at the time, Scottish peo ..read more

What is the metaverse? By Elias Rosell, Political Editor for Norrtelje Tidning The pandemic years were a bad time for live-music lovers and artists. But when concerts in the physical world were no longer possible, some artists went virtual. The American rapper Travis Scott held a concert inside the online video game Fortnite, reaching 45 million views.  The German carmaker BMW has created a virtual replica of its factory floor in the hopes that this will help increase productivity and safety among the factory employees.  On August 31st, 2022, the government of Seoul released a ..read more

Critical Raw Materials (CRM) at the top of the EU’s political agenda By Elias Rosell, Political Editor for Östersunds-Posten Ever since the New Stone Age (about 8000–2000 BCE), there has been mining  in Europe. It may therefore seem strange to write about mining, minerals and metals in a forward-looking article series called “Science, Not Fiction”. But minerals and metals are the basis for much of the current and future technology.   The EU’s need for critical raw materials (CRM) has gone from being a slightly hidden issue to topping the agenda. In President von der Leyen’s stat ..read more

What if we could use CO2 as a resource instead of just emitting it into the atmosphere? By Elias Rosell, Political Editor for Östersunds-Posten Some examples from around the world In Jülich, Germany, Synhelion has successfully used solar heat to convert CO2 and water to synthetic fuels. Like fossil fuels, these consist of carbon and hydrogen, meaning they can replace fossil fuels without major engine changes. This fact makes synthetic fuels particularly suitable for long-haul flights and other forms of transport that are difficult to electrify. Swiss International Air Lines will start buyin ..read more