Embedding digital economy: Fictitious triple movement in the European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act

Abstract

In this article, we show how the European Union styles itself as the sole political actor able to effectively protect its citizens from the threats engendered by new technologies while balancing the relations between digital markets and the member states through ground-breaking regulations. To this end, we trace manifestations of this approach within the proposed Artificial Intelligence Act. We argue that the Act, while evoking the value of fundamental rights protection, does not support genuine emancipation of citizens in the digital world, as it hands over the issue of protection to expert bodies and institutions. The European Union's unique approach to regulation of the digital economy does not reflect the triple movement postulated in Nancy Fraser's critique of Karl Polanyi's double movement as it does not include solutions that would allow the societal actors to enforce their rights concerning artificial intelligence. Thus, the Act serves mostly as a tool to build the European Union's political position.