European Lawmakers Finalize Landmark Artificial Intelligence Regulation
European Parliament and Council negotiators reach a provisional deal on the Artificial Intelligence Act, establishing strict risk-based rules to protect fundamental rights while promoting innovation. The legislation bans harmful practices like social scoring and places heavy fines on violators.
European Parliament and Council negotiators reach a provisional agreement on the Artificial Intelligence Act to ensure AI remains safe and respects fundamental rights. The regulation establishes risk-based obligations that protect democracy, the rule of law, and environmental sustainability while boosting innovation to make Europe a leader in the AI sector.
The deal explicitly bans several harmful AI applications, including social scoring based on personal characteristics and systems that manipulate human behavior or exploit vulnerabilities. Additionally, the law prohibits biometric categorization using sensitive traits, untargeted facial image scraping, and emotion recognition in workplaces and schools.
Law enforcement agencies face strict limits on using biometric identification in public spaces, requiring prior judicial authorization for narrowly defined serious crimes. Consumers gain the right to launch complaints and demand meaningful explanations about AI decisions, while companies face severe fines ranging from 7.5 million to 35 million euros depending on the severity of the violation.