Author/s: European Parliament

The European Parliament is one of the three main institutions of the European Union, representing the citizens of EU member states. It plays a crucial role in adopting European legislation, including the world's first comprehensive AI regulation framework.

Summary

The EU's Artificial Intelligence Act, which entered into force in August 2024, is the world's first comprehensive legal framework for regulating AI. It uses a risk-based classification system that prohibits unacceptable-risk AI (like social scoring), strictly regulates high-risk systems (in employment, law enforcement, education), and requires transparency for AI-generated content. The Act applies extraterritorially to any AI providers with users in the EU, potentially establishing a global standard. Implementation phases in gradually over 6-36 months, with regulatory sandboxes supporting innovation while protecting fundamental rights.