Concerns over the potential misuse of AI have led to increased efforts by the U.S., U.K., China, and the G7 to regulate the technology. However, Europe has taken the lead in this regard. European Union policymakers have reached an agreement on the AI Act, making the EU the first governing body to pass AI legislation. The agreement covers various aspects, including the use of AI in biometric surveillance, regulation of AI systems like ChatGPT, and transparency rules for market entry. The agreement also outlines requirements for AI models with significant impact and systemic risks. European Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton expressed his support for the deal. The legislation prohibits cognitive behavioral manipulation, scraping facial images from the internet or CCTV footage, social scoring, and the inference of personal details using biometric systems. Consumers will have the right to file complaints and receive explanations. Violations of the law could result in fines ranging from 7.5 million euros to 35 million euros. However, questions remain regarding the effectiveness of the law, and some aspects are not expected to take effect for 12 to 24 months. Enforcement and budget constraints are also factors that may impact the implementation of the AI Act. The law still needs to be approved by the European Parliament.
