The digital space is a “new frontier of fundamental rights”, a new world in which previous rules do not always apply automatically, European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen said.
“Think about children’s rights or consumer protection. But think also about artificial intelligence. Its potential benefits are enormous. But it can also be harmful, for example if it is used to hire and fire employees or to monitor citizens through facial recognition. We need new laws to embody our eternal values in the online world,” the EC chief said Friday in New York at the European Commission’s World Peace & Liberty Award ceremony.
It is an award given since 1965 by the World Bar Association for services to the defense of the rule of law as opposed to the use of force.
According to von der Leyen, Europe is leading the way in creating a legal framework for the digital age.
“We were the first in the world to set rules for digital platforms, and now we are doing the same with artificial intelligence. This means that all companies that want to operate in our market have to meet very high standards. Standards that center on people and their rights,” the President of the European Commission emphasized.
She said the EU is “working with like-minded friends such as Canada and the United States, as well as with Japan, Latin American countries and India, to develop equivalent rules so that technology enhances individual freedom rather than the ability of the state to control us”.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signed laws on VAT and duty exemption for imports of copters, thermal imagers, collimators, radios and night vision devices.
As noted in the cards of the corresponding bills № 8360 and № 8361-d, posted on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, both documents were returned to Parliament with the signature of the head of state on February 22.
At the same time, a member of the faction “Golos” Yaroslav Zheleznyak in his telegram channel reminded that the possibility of preferential imports will also apply to express shipments.
“The laws come into force from the day following the day of its publication. That is, in a couple of days will already work, “- added the parliamentarian.
As it was reported, the Verkhovna Rada on February 6, adopted as a basis and as a whole the draft law № 8360 and № 8361-d on exemption from VAT and import duties of copters, thermal imagers, collimators, radios and night vision devices. On February 13, they were submitted to the president for signature.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed laws No. 8196/8197 on assistance in restoring Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which, in particular, cancel VAT and customs duties on imports of generators and other power equipment, as well as Starlink satellite systems for the period until May 2023.
As people’s deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak (faction “Voice”) wrote in his Telegram channel, the laws will come into force three days after publication, according to his calculations, January 2-3, 2023.
“Of the main innovations: the importation of generators, other equipment, Starlink without duty and VAT is introduced at the legislative level. Including for individuals. The norm will be valid until May 2023,” – wrote Zheleznyak.
As it was reported, the Verkhovna Rada passed the bills № 8196/8197 in the second reading on December 13.
The bills also exempt from VAT and duties on importation of equipment within the framework of technical assistance, mail and express consignments, and provide the opportunity to store fuel without a license in the amount of up to 2,000 liters, and more than this volume on the conditions of notification to the tax authorities on the declarative principle.
As previously reported by the head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy Daniel Hetmantsev, the purpose of the above bills is to introduce short-term incentive tax and customs incentives for the restoration of energy infrastructure.
