By Julia Lever
The current landscape of policies regarding Artificial Intelligence in Germany has been
quite intriguing over the past few years, as Germany has emerged as a significant player in global
initiatives regarding AI. In 2023, there were 508 startups specializing in AI in Germany, while an
additional 42 programs funded by the German Government are helping deploy AI technologies.
This proactive approach of Germany in AI policy is a reassuring sign of the country's
commitment to AI ethics.
While the German government benefits from artificial intelligence, it also realizes the
actual danger that artificial intelligence threatens. As of 2024, 12 action areas form the focus of
the German Government's AI strategy, from research to social dialogue about the chances and
risks of artificial intelligence. The country has invested heavily in AI research and development,
with a strong focus on the ethical and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence, resulting in
several initiatives. This emphasis on ethical AI use in Germany's AI strategy instills confidence
in the country's approach to AI.
In May 2018, the European Union passed the General Data Protection Regulation
(GDPR), which aimed to protect the personal data of EU residents. This law established
businesses' requirements to protect residents' personal data while remaining fair and transparent.
As a member of the EU, Germany soon followed by implementing Germany's Federal Data
Protection Act (BDSG), which governs the collection, processing, and storage of Personal Data.
This law is thorough, outlining the rights of data subjects, the ethical obligations of data
controllers, and rules for data transfers, providing a sense of security about personal data.
Germany recognizes the need for AI policy, as in 2024, Germany's Draft Law on Autonomous
Systems aims to regulate the development and deployment of all autonomous systems, including
AI-powered vehicles and robots. Germany's first policy regarding the matter was signed into law
in February 2021 as The Act on Autonomous Driving. This act aimed to establish an outline
regarding autonomous vehicles, making autonomous vehicles safer, and enabling economic
competition in autonomous driving. These probations allowed for more lives to be protected on
the road regarding autonomous vehicles. However, the Act on Autonomous Driving did not
specifically outline the framework regarding probations on Artificial Intelligence, which the draft
law on Autonomous Systems would. This pending law would outline that Artificial Intelligence
ought to be used in ethical matters.
Germany has recognized the importance of addressing gender equity in its Artificial
Intelligence Policy. The country has taken massive steps to promote diversity, inclusion, and
protection of women and girls in Artificial Intelligence Development. In 2023, Germany
provided federal funding to Women in AI & Robotics Germany, a program whose mission is to
close the gender gap in AI and encourage women to pursue careers in AI and STEM fields.
Moreover, Germany's federal Government is expanding resources for a multi-year deepfake
detection project it is funding. Using the company, BioID, anti-spoofing technologies, and
biometrics have contributed to finding deepfakes, with a captured motion from two-facia images
that are then analyzed with artificial intelligence, enabling detection to identify deepfake
presentation attacks. As head of the project, Dr. Robert Frischholz says the machine learning
methods used to create deepfakes are similar to some parts of its biometric liveness detection solution. This defensive strategy only highlights Germany's mission to ensure that Artificial
Intelligence is inclusive and transparent. Germany's act of defending against deepfakes
recognizes the ethical use of AI that Germany aims for.
Overall, Germany's AI Policy Landscape is promising, as pending policies are actively
being written to protect German Residents against the misuse of Artificial Intelligence.
Germany's approach to policies regulating artificial intelligence is characterized by a strong
emphasis on the ethical, responsible, and transparent use of artificial intelligence, with a growing
recognition of the importance of gender equity. The country's commitment to an inclusive and
ethical AI design presents clear opportunities for promoting fairness, transparency, and diversity
in AI development.