NATO Starts Work on Artificial Intelligence Certification Standard

The standard, which also applies to data exploitation and will include quality controls, is due to be completed by the end of 2023.

NATO’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Review Board (DARB) met on 7 February to start the development of a user-friendly and responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) certification standard. It will help industries and institutions across the Alliance make sure that new AI and data projects are in line with international law, as well as NATO’s norms and values.

NATO’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Review Board (DARB) met on 7 February 2023 to start the development of a user-friendly and responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) certification standard Photo: NATO

The standard, which also applies to data exploitation and will include quality controls, is due to be completed by the end of 2023. Its aim is to translate NATO’s Principles of Responsible Use, approved in October 2021 as part of NATO’s first ever AI strategy, into concrete checks and balances, notably in terms of governability, traceability and reliability.

According to NATO, this will help to build trust among the innovation community, operational end users, and the general public. The Board is composed of nominated representatives from Allied countries, invitees Finland and Sweden, as well as NATO experts. Representatives include lawyers, engineers, military personnel and experts in ethics.

It will also serve as a unique platform to exchange best practices, guide innovators and operational end-users throughout the development phase. Its work will contribute positively to NATO’s digital transformation. At present, NATO is piloting AI in areas as diverse as cyber defence, climate change and imagery analysis. Courtesy: NATO

U.S. Takes Action to Counter Systemic Corruption in Bulgaria

The United Kingdom also designated three corrupt actors in Bulgaria for serious corruption and abuse of public institution funds.

The United States, in coordination with the United Kingdom, is taking action to counter systemic corruption in Bulgaria by designating five former Bulgarian government officials as well as five entities for corrupt acts that resulted in illicit personal gain, undermined the country’s democratic institutions, and perpetuated its corrosive dependence on Russian energy sources.

The Department of the Treasury undertook several designations on February 10 pursuant to Executive Order 13818, which builds upon and implements the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets perpetrators of serious human rights abuse and corruption around the world:

Rumen Ovcharov, a former Bulgarian member of parliament (MP) and minister responsible for energy; Aleksandar Hristov Nikolov, a former CEO and deputy director of Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant (KNPP); and Ivan Genov, former CEO of KNPP and former MP were designated for a series of illicit dealings and the exchange of bribes related to energy contracts that robbed the Government and people of Bulgaria of hundreds of millions of dollars;

Nikolay Malinov, a former MP and leader of the Russophiles National Movement and chairman of the Russophiles for Revival of the Fatherland Political Party, was designated for bribing a judge to permit him to travel to Russia, even though he had been indicted for espionage on behalf of Russian-backed interests and had been placed under a travel ban;

Vladislav Goranov, a former MP and former Minister of Finance, was designated for using his position to facilitate bribery in exchange for favorable legislation, depriving the government of tax revenues;

Inter Trade 2021 EOOD, MS Konsult 2016 EOOD, the Russophiles National Movement, and Russophiles for the Revival of the Fatherland, were designated for being owned or controlled by Malinov;

Trilemma Consulting Ltd EOOD was designated for being owned or controlled by Goranov.

The Department of State also imposed visa restrictions on Ovcharov, Nikolov, and Goranov for involvement in significant corruption under Section 7031(c) of the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act. As a result of these actions, those individuals and their immediate family members are generally ineligible for entry into the United States.

The United Kingdom also designated three corrupt actors in Bulgaria for serious corruption and abuse of public institution funds: Vassil Kroumov Bojkov, a prominent Bulgarian businessman and oligarch; Delyan Slavchev Peevski, an oligarch and former MP; and Ilko Dimitrov Zhelyazkov, the former Deputy Chief of the Bulgarian State Agency for Technical Operations, under the UK Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regime.

These actions reinforce prior U.S. designations of these individuals under the Global Magnitsky sanctions program and the Department of State’s public designation of Peevski and Zhelyazkov under Section 7031(c) in June 2021.

“These coordinated actions support the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption and demonstrate the commitment of the United States and the United Kingdom to promoting accountability for corruption, and to helping Bulgaria, a NATO Ally, institute critical rule of law reforms,” said U.S. Secretary of State, Antony J. Blinken.

The corruption perpetuated by those designated reflects a systemic pattern of personal enrichment at the expense of the Bulgarian people, government, and democratic institutions.

“The United States and the United Kingdom stand steadfast in solidarity with those in Bulgaria who seek to tackle corruption and strengthen the rule of law,” Blinken said.