The PP has warned of the absence of effective tools for "control and supervision" over the use of algorithms in the Spanish public sector and has called on the Government to launch an artificial intelligence strategy in the administration that sets concrete goals, monitoring indicators, and evaluation systems.
Through a non-binding proposal registered for debate in the Congress's Finance Committee, the Popular Group points out the "opacity" in the adoption of automated decisions, the risk of discriminatory biases, and the possible impact on fundamental rights derived from the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence.
In this scenario, Alberto Núñez Feijóo's training calls for an "immediate" regulatory and organizational reaction, which can be audited and addressed from the responsibility of public powers. At the same time, it maintains that the implementation of artificial intelligence must be accompanied by a reinforcement of the institutions' capabilities.
According to the PP, the countries that lead the digital transformation of their administrations have opted for comprehensive national strategies that combine governance, talent development, data infrastructures, and cooperation between the public and private sectors.
“Spain, however, continues to lack a clear, coherent, and assessable roadmap in this area,” warns the Popular Group, which then proposes a set of initiatives to the Executive.
Prioritize AI in healthcare, justice, and key services
Among these measures, the PP proposes to the Government to extend the use of artificial intelligence systems in the provision of public services, prioritizing areas of great impact such as healthcare, social services, justice, tax management, and citizen services, and ensuring human supervision at all times.
Likewise, it claims that the principles of transparency, traceability, explainability, and accountability must be guaranteed in the use of AI, so that citizens can know, understand, and, where appropriate, appeal the decisions that are adopted.
The popular group also calls on the Executive to promote a national policy of interoperable and quality public data, which will serve as the basis for the real deployment of artificial intelligence in the administration, through the reinforcement of interoperability systems and the exchange of information between administrations.
Another of the proposals consists of promoting training and specific education in AI for public administration staff, incorporating advanced digital skills in selection processes and professional careers.
Lastly, the PP urges the Government to strengthen public-private collaboration and with the academic sphere, with the objective of accelerating innovation in artificial intelligence applied to the public sector, preserving the general interest and the technological sovereignty of the country.