Ethics reviews in the European Union. Implications for the governance of scientific research in times of data science and Artificial Intelligence

This article builds on discussions on peer review in science and the role of ethics in the governance of technologies to achieve a two-fold goal. First, it shows the process of co-production of the European Commission’s (EC’s) standardised ‘ethics appraisal process’ with the development of the EC’s Framework Programmes (FPs), by looking at the standardisation of the process and the mutual shaping of data protection law and risk-based discourses around Artificial Intelligence. Second, it investigates the political and epistemic implications arising from this process for the EU governance of scientific research regarding (1) sponsorship of science and technology by the EU and (2) how many limitations or constraints researchers have in practice when carrying out their research. After sketching the origins of the ethics appraisal process and its co-production with data protection law and risk-based jargon, the article outlines the implications for the governance of scientific research and draws recommendations.