The collection of data on the internet has reached unimagined proportions. Algorithms, artificial intelligence and the like are getting better and better at recognising not only what we are looking for, but also how we feel and what is important to us at the moment.
Against the background of a global economy of data collection, the EU has adopted various regulations to strengthen the rights and freedoms of citizens. These include the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the laws recently passed in the European Parliament, such as the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Service Act. "We are once again facing major technological upheavals, such as the increasing use of artificial intelligence and algorithmic decision-making systems, up to and including the use of quantum computers," emphasises ITA project manager Walter Peissl.
A new study, conducted by the Institute of Technology Assessment (ITA) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Austrian Chamber of Labour, asks: How has the role of consumers changed, and how do European regulatory projects and the penetration of our everyday life with information and communication technologies influence the lives of consumers?
Click here for the project page
News: Algorithms in welfare: Social and transparent?
Podcast with ITA-researcher Astrid Mager: Hey Google! The almost limitless power of a search engine