The EU AI Act includes a blanket ban on police use of live facial recognition technology in public places.

The EU has moved significantly closer to enacting pioneering legislation that would regulate artificial intelligence, marking a significant milestone in global AI governance. The European Parliament approved draft legislation known as the AI Act, including a ban on police use of live facial recognition technology in public places. This legislation aims to set a global standard for AI technology, covering various applications such as medical diagnoses, deepfakes, and chatbots like ChatGPT. (The Guardian)

The approved but draft AI Act will undergo further refinement through discussions between MEPs and EU countries before becoming law. The move demonstrates a proactive response to the challenges posed by AI, with European Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasizing the need for fast action and responsibility.

There is anticipation that European leaders will resist a complete prohibition on biometrics, as law enforcement agencies throughout the continent are eager to leverage the capability of identifying criminals in public spaces or while moving through streets.

The proposed law also includes a ban on emotional recognition in workplaces and schools.

Additionally, developers of AI chatbots will be required to publish the works used to train them and prove compliance with the law, with potential fines up to 7% of revenue for non-compliance.

The legislation has been praised as setting a global standard by the President of the European Parliament, and it is seen as the start of a new era of scrutiny. While the EU progresses towards comprehensive AI regulation, pressure for AI regulation is also growing in other parts of the world, driven by concerns about its impact on democracy and humanity.

Although the EU aims to reach an agreement on the law by the end of the year, it is not expected to come into force until at least 2026. In the meantime, the EU may seek voluntary agreements with tech companies.

Nevertheless, the AI Act represents a balance between privacy concerns and security-oriented approaches. Its impact on shaping the future of AI globally is seen as significant.

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