The European Parliament approved with a substantial majority the Artificial Intelligence Act, a first normative law for the growing AI sector. The act aims to create a set of guidelines to avoid abuse without stifling competition and innovation.
“Unacceptable AI practices will be banned in Europe and the rights of workers and citizens will be protected,” said Italian MEP Brando Benifei, while Romanian MEP and co-rapporteur of the proposal Dragos Tudorache pointed at the next steps the EU needs to implement: “AI will push us to rethink the social contract at the heart of our democracies, our education models, labour markets, and the way we conduct warfare. The AI Act is a starting point for a new model of governance built around technology.”
Under the AI Act, applications that may threaten citizens’ rights, profile persons or manipulate human behaviour are outright banned. The ban includes biometric categorisation systems based on sensitive characteristics and untargeted scraping of facial images and apps that works for emotion recognition in public spaces.
Exceptions are planned for law enforcement, with a narrow case list. Biometric identification systems (RBI) are not allowed in real time, unless there is judicial or administrative authorisation in grave circumstances, like prevention of a terrorist attack. RBI usage post-facto also will require judicial authorisation linked with the criminal offence.
Usage of AI systems will also need to meet transparency requirements like complying with EU copyright law and clearly identify images, audio and video that are manipulated using AI software. In order to promote innovation, the act allows individual countries to create regulatory tools and testing for businesses and start-ups in order to develop AI systems within Europe.
The AI Act received 523 votes in favour, 46 against and 49 abstentions on a plenary vote on Wednesday. It is expected to enter in force before the next European elections.
