On May 7, Mykolas Romeris University hosted the international conference “From Innovation to Regulation: Responsible AI in Europe,” bringing together researchers and experts from Lithuania and other European countries to discuss one of today’s most important issues – how to ensure that the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) remains compatible with human rights, democratic values, and responsible regulation in Europe.
The conference focused extensively on the impact of AI on the information space, legal systems, privacy protection, and public governance. In her presentation, Dr. Gintarė Makauskaitė-Samuolė, Assistant at the Institute of International and European Union Law of the MRU Law School, analyzed how algorithms and artificial intelligence contribute to the spread of disinformation and transform society’s relationship with information and democratic processes.
The role of artificial intelligence in public decision-making and the justice system was examined by Dr. Yulia Razmetaeva from Uppsala University and Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University. Her presentation addressed questions regarding the limits of algorithmic decision-making, the importance of human oversight, and the risks arising from the automation of decision-making processes.
Issues related to privacy and surveillance technologies were discussed by Dr. Simas Grigonis, Lecturer at the Institute of International and European Union Law of the MRU Law School, who spoke about the use of real-time biometric identification in law enforcement. His presentation analyzed the threats posed by facial recognition technologies to privacy and the balance democratic societies must maintain between security and the protection of human rights.
In the second part of the conference, Dr. Denitza Toptchiyska from New Bulgarian University presented the directions of European Union AI regulation and discussed whether Europe can remain a space for innovation while ensuring high standards of fundamental rights protection.
MRU doctoral student Aliona Gaidarovič addressed the challenges of personal data protection in AI-driven information dissemination, while doctoral student Raimondas Andrijauskas examined liability issues related to autonomous vehicles, which are becoming increasingly relevant as technologies gain the ability to make decisions independently.
The opportunities and risks of AI applications in the healthcare sector were discussed by Prof. Dr. Marius Laurinaitis, researcher at the MRU LegalTech Center, who analyzed the role of autonomous systems in diagnostic and treatment processes as well as the related ethical and legal dilemmas.
The conference concluded with a presentation by Dr. Oleksiy Feshchenko from the Ukrainian organization Ukrainian Modern Digital Science, who discussed the impact of technology on organized crime, virtual asset markets, and contemporary financial investigations.
The international conference became a platform not only for academic discussions, but also for a broader dialogue about Europe’s future in the era of AI – a period in which technological advancement inevitably raises the question of how to maintain a balance between innovation, responsibility, and the protection of human rights.
