EDPS Compass guides trustworthy AI in EU public administration under AI Act

Under the AI Act (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689), the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) now serves a dual role. It acts as a market surveillance authority for AI systems utilized by EU institutions. Additionally, it functions as a notified body for conducting high-risk AI assessments. This expands its responsibilities significantly within the EU framework. The EDPS has proactively prepared for these new duties. In May 2024, it launched its comprehensive AI Preparedness Strategy. Furthermore, to support its expanded mandate, the EDPS established a dedicated AI Unit. This strategic foresight ensures readiness for the challenges ahead. The latest document from the EDPS details its new tasks and strategic vision under the AI Act. It also outlines an operational approach for effectively supervising AI systems. Crucially, it identifies four strategic pillars that will guide its dual role as both a regulator and an assessor of AI technologies. Ultimately, this significant move by the EDPS is designed to achieve a critical objective. It aims to ensure that AI technologies deployed across all EU bodies are safe, fully compliant with regulations, and remain human-centric in their design and application. This fosters trust in AI.