Spain Implements Big Fines For Non-Label AI Content

Spanish Minister of Digital Transformation, Oscar Lopez (photo: x @Dalyahya)

JAKARTA The Spanish government has approved a bill requiring companies to label content generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Violations of this rule can be fined up to 35 million euros (approximately IDR 628.1 billion) or 7% of the company's global annual turnover.

This step aims to suppress the spread of deepfakes, namely images, videos, or audio produced by AI but presented as real content. The bill is in line with the European Union's AI Act which requires transparency in the use of high-risk AI and prohibits harmful practices for society.

Spain's Minister of Digital Transformation, Oscar Lopez, stated that this regulation is important to ensure AI is used responsibly.

"AI is a very powerful tool that can be used to improve our lives... or to spread disinformation and attack democracy," said Lopez.

Spain became one of the first EU countries to strictly enforce AI rules, while in the United States, AI regulations still rely on voluntary compliance and different rules in each state.

Lopez also emphasized that deepfakes can attack anyone, including individuals and institutions, so it is important to have a clear control mechanism.

In addition to setting AI content labels, the bill also prohibits various AI practices that are considered dangerous, including:

Subliminal techniques: A ban on the use of sounds or images that are not realized to manipulate vulnerable groups.

For example, a chatbot that encourages gambling addicts to continue playing or toys that encourage children to pose dangerous challenges.

Individual ranking with AI: Organizations are prohibited from using AI biometric data to classify people based on personal behavior or character to determine access to services or assess the risk of their crime.

However, the government remains allowed to use real-time biometric surveillance in public places for national security reasons.

New Supervisory Agency Will Enforce Rules

The enforcement of this rule will be supervised by Agentcia Espa Marijula de Supervisionularel de la Inteligencia Artificial (AESIA), the newly formed AI supervisory body.

However, some special cases such as those related to data privacy, crime, elections, credit ratings, insurance, and capital markets will still be monitored by relevant regulators in their respective sectors.

Spain is taking firm steps in regulating artificial intelligence by imposing severe sanctions on companies that do not comply with AI transparency. With this rule, it is hoped that the use of AI in Spain and the European Union can be more responsible, while protecting the public from the negative impacts of rapidly growing technology.