Influencer marketing is growing rapidly in social media and is used in a wide variety of areas such as fashion, fitness, food or travel. Due to the great response and the potential to set trends, this type of marketing has become a sought-after form of advertising. Brands are increasingly using it to promote their products and services and get their messages across to a large audience. But what impact does this type of advertising have on consumers, and where would EU-wide regulation need to intervene?

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems has already penetrated many areas of life in recent years. Due to the current rapid spread of ChatGPT, awareness of AI and the need for regulating AI systems has recently risen sharply. Besides positive expectations towards innovation, AI systems also raise concerns, especially with regard to the safety and protection of the fundamental rights of workers and consumers. On 14 June 2023, the EU Parliament will vote on how the future EU law on Artificial Intelligence should be designed.

Rapid advances in the development of artificial intelligence and algorithms make the protection of people in the digital space a highly relevant concern for European policy. With its initiative on "Digital Fairness", the EU Commission wants to check whether existing EU consumer law ensures that the same level of fairness is achieved online and offline. As shown in a new AK EUROPA position paper, there is indeed still a great need for action to make this maxim a reality.

With its initiative on "Digital Fairness", the EU Commission wants to analyse whether the existing consumer protection law ensures an equal level of fairness online and offline. As presented in this AK EUROPA position paper, there is certainly a great need for action from the point of view of AK. The digital economy is gaining more and more power over consumers and citizens through excessive use of data, algorithms and artificial intelligence, while their position is becoming ever weaker. "Take it or leave it" is often the motto of online providers.

Jointly with other organisations working for digital rights of patients, healthcare professionals, consumers, workers and trade unions  in the European Health Data Area, AK EUROPA has addressed Members of the EU Parliament in an open letter. The letter urges MEPs to prioritise fundamental rights of European patients in the digitalisation of health systems and, in particular, to include consent requirements for the use of data. The current proposal threatens to deny patients control over the sharing of their medical data and its commercial exploitation.

The Brussels offices of the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK EUROPA) and the Austrian Trade Union Confederation (ÖGB Europabüro), as well as the European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), cordially invite you to our joint webinar "The European Health Data Space: a risk or an opportunity?”.

On 8 December 2022, ministers of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council were able to make progress regarding important issues concerning the European Pillar of Social Rights – for example in the fight against asbestos at the workplace or in respect of long-term care. However, the Council has not been able to adopt a common position for platform work. But there was positive news regarding this issue from the EU Parliament, where the Employment Committee adopted its report on 12 December 2022.

Digital transformation and associated technical innovations require adapted standards of protection for consumers. With regard to Artificial Intelligence (AI), the EU Commission has now presented a proposal for a Directive, which lays down special liability rules for damages caused by AI systems. This will pursue the target to enable victims to gain easy access to compensation.

On 23 April 2022, EU Parliament and Council reached a provisional political agreement on the Digital Services Act (DSA). Together with the Digital Markets Act, the DSA is to set standards for a safe and more open digital space for users as well as equal competitive conditions for enterprises.

This open letter of the Austrian Chamber of Labour (AK) is asking the Members of the European Parliament for a high level of consumer protection, that is particularly important to us for all products and services that are based on algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) and that consumers come into contact with. We are notably committed to ensuring that they are given the best protection against the erosion of their basic rights and freedoms, lack of transparency, discrimination, and other risks of damage caused by such analysis software.