New EU rules for artificial intelligence: Ban on unacceptable risks

Current AI Act These EU rules for artificial intelligence apply from now on

2025-02-04 Source: dpa 2 min Reading Time

In the European Union, new rules for handling artificial intelligence (AI) came into effect on February 2. This is now current ...

Since February 2, new regulations within the framework of the AI Act apply in the EU. What is new is listed here. However, there is also criticism ...(Image: European Parliament) — Since February 2, new regulations within the framework of the AI Act apply in the EU. What is new is listed here. However, there is also criticism ...
(Image: European Parliament)

According to the EU AI Act, from this cut-off date, AI systems that pose so-called unacceptable risks to safety, health, or fundamental rights are prohibited unless it involves national security. Thus, the EU now bans the use of AI programs that assess based on social behavior. In the so-called social scoring, for example, citizens in China are categorized and rewarded or punished. In the EU, there should also be no emotion recognition in workplaces or educational institutions, as further information reveals. Additionally, manipulative AI systems employing deceptive techniques to influence people's behavior are not permitted. This includes voice-controlled toys that entice children into dangerous behavior.

The AI ban list is even longer ...

The EU's ban list also includes AI systems that exploit the weaknesses of individuals or groups. This includes automated robo-calls that could be used to defraud the elderly. Facial recognition in public spaces—such as video surveillance in public areas—is also generally not allowed. However, as must be admitted, there are again exceptions. Police and other security authorities should be allowed to use such facial recognition to pursue certain crimes like human trafficking and terrorism. As of the cut-off date of February 2, companies developing or using AI must therefore assess their systems according to the level of risk and take appropriate measures to comply with legal requirements. Providers and operators of AI tools must now also demonstrate sufficient AI competence, it is stated.

Industry association Bitkom criticizes the EU

The whole situation offers no legal certainty, criticizes the industry association Bitkom regarding the EU regulation. It is therefore unclear for which applications the legal prohibition actually applies. The association further states that the policy makers have set high demands and tight deadlines for companies with the AI Act, yet have not done their homework themselves. The risk would now be borne by the companies developing or using AI. While AI is to be expanded in the USA with hundreds of billions of dollars, and extremely powerful language models are being released in China, hurdles are being thrown at AI companies in Germany and Europe. The President of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde, admitted in a joint blog entry that Europe's competitiveness is at risk. While a global revolution in artificial intelligence is unfolding, the EU could be sidelined. However, there are enough talents and prerequisites in Europe that it should not come to this.

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