European Union Moves to Regulate Artificial Intelligence

The European Union’s executive branch on Wednesday announced proposals designed to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI), banning its use in practices such as surveillance and facial scanning that threaten personal rights.

At a news briefing in Brussels, European Commission Executive Vice President and Tech Commissioner Margrethe Vestager noted the benefits of AI in the medical field, agriculture and engineering. “I think those examples illustrate very well what we want AI in Europe to be: a force for progress," she said. The proposed regulations address the human and societal risks associated with specific uses of AI, such as mass surveillance and biometric identification in public places.