In a historic move, the European Council has approved the world’s first major law aimed at regulating artificial intelligence (AI), setting a precedent that may shape global standards in AI governance.
Ministers from the 27 member states of the European Union convened in Brussels to give their final approval to the “Artificial Intelligence Act,” marking a significant milestone in AI regulation.
Mathieu Michel, the Belgian Secretary of State for digitalisation, emphasized Europe’s commitment to establishing a framework that prioritizes the development of safe, human-centered, and trustworthy AI technologies.
Under the new regulation, AI applications will be categorized based on their level of risk. Provisions within the law prohibit the use of AI for social scoring or predicting criminal behavior, while also imposing restrictions on the use of biometric identification in public spaces.
Transparency and accountability are key tenets of the new law, with requirements for labeling any content generated by AI to resemble existing individuals. This includes images, videos, and audio.
To enforce compliance, companies found in violation of the act could face substantial fines of up to $38 million or 7 percent of their annual revenues, whichever is higher. Implementation of the regulations will be phased in, commencing in 2026.
The “Artificial Intelligence Act” represents a landmark effort to address the ethical and societal implications of AI technology, signaling Europe’s proactive approach to regulating emerging technologies in alignment with fundamental human values.