Allocating Access to Quantum Computing: A Legal-Ethical Framework

TL;DR

This paper presents a comprehensive legal-ethical framework for responsible allocation of access to quantum computing resources, demonstrated through a real-world implementation with a 16-qubit quantum computer in Europe.

Contribution

It introduces a novel general legal-ethical framework for quantum computing access allocation, applicable across different contexts and operationalized in a European research infrastructure.

Findings

Framework effectively guides responsible access policies.

Successful integration with Dutch supercomputing resources.

Practical application in a European quantum computing project.

Abstract

Along with the increased availability and capabilities of quantum computers comes the core question: how can access to quantum computing be allocated in a responsible way? This report introduces a general legal-ethical framework that providers of access to quantum computing can apply to develop robust access policies tailored to their specific context. We demonstrate the applicability of this general legal-ethical framework in the specific context of a small, 16-qubit quantum computer that will be hosted by SURF (the Dutch IT cooperative for research and education), integrated with Snellius (the Dutch national supercomputer), and operated jointly as part of the EuroSSQ-HPC consortium, procured in partnership with the EU-wide EuroHPC Joint Undertaking.