Social Services Europe has issued a compelling response to the European Commission's Call for Evidence on the "EU Apply AI Strategy."
In the statement, SSE welcomes the EU’s ambition to lead in trustworthy AI development but stresses that social services must be seen as strategic partners, not just passive users of AI technologies. AI, if developed inclusively and ethically, has the potential to transform social services by improving efficiency, accessibility, and the personalisation of care. This transformation must prioritise people over profit, addressing our sector's concerns around data privacy, algorithmic bias, surveillance, and the risk of replacing human care with impersonal technologies.
SSE proposes five key recommendations for the EU’s AI strategy:
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Co-develop inclusive AI solutions – Engaging from the beginning diverse stakeholders, including service users, to co-design tools tailored to their needs.
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Invest in digital literacy and skills training – Establish comprehensive education programmes to prepare workers in social services for AI integration and management layers to be aware of the legal frame like the AI Act.
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Implement strong regulatory oversight – Taking into consideration the European AI Act, the EU should enforce principles of transparency, accountability, and fairness, building mechanisms for correcting misinformation and maintaining a human oversight layer.
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Foster collaborative approaches among policymakers, technologists, researchers and service providers to innovate responsibly.
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Focus on ethical AI deployment – Prioritise human dignity, autonomy, and well-being in AI design and application. Inclusive regulation and funding should safeguard dignity and prevent digital exclusion.
Read the full statement here and to know more about SSE's position on this topic, please read the report on AI-adoption in social services.