Germany published its national AI strategy in 2018, with updates in 2020, focusing on three main goals: making Germany and Europe a leading centre for AI, ensuring responsible development and use of AI for societal benefit, and integrating AI in society through ethical, legal, and cultural frameworks. The strategy emphasises "AI made in Germany" as a hallmark of ethical and trustworthy AI development. Germany has launched numerous initiatives to implement its strategy, including ethical guidelines for automated driving and the creation of an AI Observatory to assess AI's societal impact.
As an EU member state, Germany is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and has implemented additional national laws to supplement it. The country has established a complex system of data protection authorities at both federal and state levels. Germany has taken steps to promote algorithmic transparency, with the Ministry of Education and Research funding R&D projects on explainable AI, several German cities adopting algorithm registers for municipal AI use, and data protection agencies calling for greater transparency in public sector AI use. However, there have been concerns about attempts to weaken transparency obligations in some areas, particularly in law enforcement and border control.
Germany has faced public resistance to some AI applications, particularly in surveillance and facial recognition. Plans for widespread facial recognition in public spaces have been met with criticism, and the incoming coalition government in 2021 pledged to exclude biometric recognition in public spaces. Predictive policing projects have been launched at both federal and state levels, but with mixed results and ongoing legal challenges.
In terms of human rights and international engagement, Germany is highly rated for the protection of political rights and civil liberties. The country has been active in international AI initiatives, endorsing the OECD AI Principles, joining the Global Partnership on AI, signing the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI, participating in the AI Safety Summit, and contributing to the Council of Europe's Framework Convention on AI. Germany has also taken a strong stance against autonomous weapons systems, advocating for international regulation.
Germany has established itself as a leader in ethical AI development and regulation, both domestically and within the EU. While the country has made significant progress in creating guidelines and frameworks for responsible AI use, challenges remain in balancing innovation with privacy concerns and human rights protections. As AI technologies continue to evolve, Germany's approach to implementation and enforcement of its AI policies will be crucial in realising its vision of "AI made in Germany" as a global standard for ethical and trustworthy artificial intelligence.
This country report is our interpretation and summary of the "CAIDP Artificial Intelligence & Democratic Values Index 2023". The full report can be found here - https://www.caidp.org/reports/aidv-2023/