by Andria Papageorgiou

COMPLIANCE, News, REGULATORYMarch 13, 20240 comments

Parliament Passes Landmark Artificial Intelligence Act: Ensuring Safety, Compliance, and Innovation

In a historic move, Parliament has greenlit the Artificial Intelligence Act, marking a significant step towards ensuring safety, compliance with fundamental rights, and fostering innovation in the AI landscape.

This legislation, which underwent negotiations with member states in December 2023, received overwhelming support from MEPs, with 523 votes in favor, 46 against, and 49 abstentions. Its primary objective is to safeguard fundamental rights, democracy, the rule of law, and environmental sustainability from the potential risks posed by high-risk AI technologies, all the while propelling Europe forward as a global leader in the field.

Among its provisions, the Act prohibits certain AI applications deemed detrimental to citizens’ rights, such as biometric categorization systems based on sensitive characteristics and the indiscriminate collection of facial images from sources like the internet or CCTV footage for facial recognition databases. Additionally, practices like emotion recognition in workplaces and schools, social scoring, predictive policing solely based on profiling, and AI manipulation of human behavior or exploitation of vulnerabilities are strictly forbidden.

However, the legislation acknowledges exemptions for law enforcement agencies, allowing the use of biometric identification systems under tightly defined circumstances, such as targeted search operations for missing persons or counterterrorism measures, with strict safeguards in place.

Furthermore, the Act imposes clear obligations on high-risk AI systems, mandating risk assessment and mitigation measures, transparent operations, accurate decision-making, and human oversight. Citizens are granted the right to lodge complaints regarding AI systems affecting their rights and to receive explanations for decisions made by such systems.

Transparency is a cornerstone of the Act, requiring general-purpose AI systems and their underlying models to adhere to stringent transparency standards, including compliance with EU copyright laws and the disclosure of comprehensive summaries of training data. Additionally, measures are introduced to combat the proliferation of manipulated media content, such as deepfakes, by mandating clear labeling.

To support innovation and empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regulatory sandboxes and real-world testing environments will be established at the national level, providing opportunities for developing and training innovative AI solutions before market entry.

In reflecting on this milestone, co-rapporteurs Brando Benifei and Dragos Tudorache emphasized the Act’s significance in shaping a future where AI aligns with European values, protects citizens’ rights, and fosters responsible innovation.

Looking ahead, the Act is slated for final adoption pending legal review and endorsement by the Council, with provisions set to come into effect progressively over the next few years. This landmark legislation not only responds to citizens’ demands for a safer and more trustworthy AI environment but also sets a precedent for global governance in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

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