The AI ​​Act comes into force, the world's first law on artificial intelligence

With the approval of the Council, the green light was given to the AI ​​Act, which officially becomes the first law on artificial intelligence in force in the world.

THE'AI Act is officially law.On 21 May the Council of the European Union unanimously approved the text of the regulation, bringing into force the first standard in the world on artificial intelligence.

The law prohibits applications of artificial intelligence considered “unacceptable” in terms of risk level.Such applications include the so-calledsocial scoring” which classify citizens based on the aggregation and analysis of their data, the predictive policing and the emotional recognition in the workplace and in schools.

The rules will be applicable two years after entry into force, giving companies and others time to comply with the law, but there are some exceptions.The bans contained in the text will come into force after six months, the controls on artificial intelligence systems for general purposes will come into force after one year while it will take three for the obligations for high-risk systems.

The European digital strategy

THE'AI Act is one of the pillars of the European Union's digital strategy, presented at the beginning of the legislature which is closing in recent weeks.There digital strategy of the Union, published by the European Commission in February 2020, aims to position Europe as a leader in the digital world when it comes to data and artificial intelligence.

The initial approach was particularly ambitious for digital technological development and how to use technology to achieve climate neutrality objectives.

Control mechanism and sanctions in the AI ​​Act

The European Council he established there creation four organs control so that correct application of the legislation can be guaranteed:the'AI office within the European Commission, a scientific group of independent experts the purpose of which is to support regulation enforcement activities, a committee for artificial intelligence with representatives of the States members to advise and assist the Commission and States on the consistent and effective application of the legislation, a consultative forum for stakeholders providing technical expertise to the AI ​​Board and the Commission.

The European Council also sent a note relating to sanctions.Fines for violations of the AI ​​Act are set as one percentage of global turnover per year of the company or a predetermined amount, whichever is higher.Administrative sanctions are foreseen for small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups.

According to some calculations, the European Commission will have the power to fine companies violating the AI ​​Act up to 35 million euros or 7 percent of their global annual revenues, whichever is higher.

The European Union has seized the opportunity to have the first legal infrastructure on artificial intelligence, not without being anyway paid attention to by civil society and by organizations that deal with digital rights for its limits in the protection of some categories.However, many elements of this rule will likely be emulated and replicated by other government bodies.