EU legislative committees have agreed to tougher AI rules

BRUSSELS, May 11 (Reuters) – European lawmakers are a step closer to approving new laws governing artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, agreeing a tougher bill in a landslide vote on Thursday.

The EU’s much-anticipated AI law is the world’s first comprehensive law governing technology and looks set to contain new rules on facial recognition, biometric tracking and other AI applications.

After two years of negotiations, the draft law is now expected to move to the next stage of the process, where lawmakers will finalize details with the European Commission and individual member states.

Dragos Tudorache, one of the parliamentarians charged with preparing the laws, said before the vote by two legislative committees: “This is a very rough agreement. But I think this package will give everyone involved in these negotiations.”

“Our communities expect us to do something about artificial intelligence and its impact on their lives. It is enough to turn on the TV … in the last two or three months, and you see every day how important this is becoming. For citizens”

Based on the comments, AI tools are classified according to the perceived level of risk from low to unacceptable. Governments and companies that use these tools have different obligations depending on the level of risk.

German MP Svenja Hahn told Reuters the negotiations forced conservative and left-wing MEPs to meet halfway. “We succeeded in securing an agreement that fairly regulates AI, protects civil rights, and promotes innovation and the economy,” she said.

In Thursday morning’s vote, MEPs agreed to impose new transparency measures on facial recognition in public places, the use of virtual policing tools and generative AI apps such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

“This vote is a major milestone in regulating AI, and a clear signal from Parliament that fundamental rights must be a cornerstone of that,” Greens MP Kim van Spaarrentak told Reuters. “AI should serve people, society and the environment, not the other way around.”

The draft law will be put to a full vote in the European Parliament in June before final terms can be agreed.TrilogyA discussion involving representatives of the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission.

After the regulations are finalized and the bill becomes law, there will be a two-year grace period to allow affected parties to comply with the regulations.

“The European Parliament needs to take a very strong position to protect the rights of all people entering the EU,” said Caterina Rodelli, the European Parliament’s EU policy analyst.

Reporting by Fo Yun Chee and Bart Meijer; Editing by Alison Williams

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