European Parliament Approves EU AI Act: First Regulation On Artificial Intelligence In European Union

The European Union now has a law on artificial intelligence. (photo: dock. pexels)

JAKARTA - The European Parliament has approved the EU AI Act, a comprehensive legal framework for the regulation and supervision of artificial intelligence technology in the European Union.

The law was passed by Parliament in a vote on June 14, with majority support in the form of 499 votes in favor, 28 against, and 93 abstained.

The next stage before the law becomes law will involve individual negotiations with members of the European Parliament to perfect the details. Originally proposed by the European Commission on April 21, the EU AI Act was a comprehensive set of rules for the development of artificial intelligence in the European Union.

"It aims to encourage the adoption of human-centered artificial intelligence and can be trusted and protect health, safety, fundamental rights, and democracy from its negative impacts," read a press release from the European Parliament, quoted by Cointelegraph.

Once implemented, the law will ban some types of services and products of artificial intelligence while restricting or imposing restrictions on others. Some strictly prohibited technologies include biometric surveillance, social scoring systems, predictive police, so-called "emotional recognition", and an untargeted facial recognition system.

Generative AI models, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard, will be allowed to operate on condition that their optencies are clearly labeled as a result of artificial intelligence.

Once this law becomes law, any artificial intelligence system that can "broaden significant harm to health, safety, fundamental rights, or the environment" or "influence voters and election results" will be classified as a high risk and subject to further scrutiny.

The ratification of the EU AI Act by the European Parliament comes just two weeks after the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) law from the supranational entity became law on May 31. In both cases, industry leaders were among those leading the movement for regulation.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is one of the most vocal supporters of government's oversight of the artificial intelligence industry. Recently, he testified before Congress in a hearing in which he firmly stated that regulations were needed. However, Altman also recently warned European regulators against overregulating.

In terms of cryptocurrencies, Director of Ripple's Manager for Europe and the United Kingdom, Sendi Young, recently told Cointelegraph he believes MiCA will help facilitate "fair playing fields" for companies operating in the crypto sector in Europe.

Regulations against artificial intelligence and the crypto sector are the main focus for the European government in their efforts to face challenges and regulate rapid technological developments. By passing the EU AI Act, the European Union seeks to ensure that the use of artificial intelligence is carried out ethically, safely, and respecting human rights. The law also aims to protect Europeans from risks associated with improper or harmful applications from artificial intelligence.

Both laws, EU AI Act and MiCA, mark significant steps in the European Union's efforts to create a clear and reliable framework in regulating fast-growing future technologies. It also sends signals that regulation and oversight are important priorities for European governments in ensuring the protection of their citizens' interests and promoting responsible innovations.

Along with the development of this regulation, it is hoped that the legal framework implemented in the European Union will set an example for other countries around the world in the face of challenges and risks associated with artificial intelligence and related technologies.