EU lays out pointers on misuse of AI by employers, web sites and police

By
Reuters

Revealed

February 4, 2025

Employers might be banned from utilizing synthetic intelligence to trace their workers’s feelings and web sites won’t be allowed to make use of it to trick customers into spending cash below EU AI pointers introduced on Tuesday.

Reuters

The rules from the European Fee come as corporations grapple with the complexity and value of complying with the world’s first laws on using the know-how.

The Synthetic Intelligence Act, binding since final 12 months, might be totally relevant on Aug. 2, 2026, with sure provisions kicking in earlier, such because the ban on sure practices from Feb. 2 this 12 months.

“The ambition is to provide legal certainty for those who provide or deploy the artificial intelligence systems on the European market, also for the market surveillance authorities. The guidelines are not legally binding,” a Fee official informed reporters.

Prohibited practices embrace AI-enabled darkish patterns embedded in companies designed to govern customers into making substantial monetary commitments, and AI-enabled purposes which exploit customers primarily based on their age, incapacity or socio-economic scenario.

AI-enabled social scoring utilizing unrelated private information comparable to origin and race by social welfare companies and different private and non-private our bodies is banned, whereas police are usually not allowed to foretell people’ felony behaviour solely primarily based on their biometric information if this has not been verified.

Employers can’t use webcams and voice recognition methods to trace staff’ feelings, whereas cell CCTV cameras geared up with AI-based facial recognition applied sciences for legislation enforcement functions are prohibited, with restricted exceptions and stringent safeguards.

EU international locations have till Aug. 2 to designate market surveillance authorities to implement the AI guidelines. AI breaches can price corporations fines starting from 1.5% to 7% of their whole world income.

The EU AI Act is extra complete than the USA’ light-touch voluntary compliance strategy whereas China’s strategy goals to keep up social stability and state management.