Members of the European Parliament are set to debate the proposed artificial intelligence (AI) law, which aims to introduce new rules for transparency and risk management across AI systems in Europe. The discussion will shape how AI is governed on the continent and could influence global standards.
The draft negotiating mandate on the initial AI rules was advanced by two key committees, the Internal Market Committee and the Civil Liberties Committee. In that process, 84 Members of Parliament voted in favor, seven voted against, and twelve abstained, signaling broad but measured support for a framework that would guide AI development and deployment.
The statement accompanying the measure explains that lawmakers want amendments to ensure artificial intelligence systems stay under human oversight, are safe, transparent, traceable, non-discriminatory, and environmentally responsible. A core aim is to establish a single, technology-neutral definition of AI to cover the widest possible range of systems while keeping the rules consistent across use cases.
As reported, once approved, these rules would become the world’s first comprehensive framework for AI governance. The measures call for banning biometric surveillance and emotion recognition in several contexts, while permitting legitimate complaints and avenues for redress when AI systems cause harm or raise concerns about rights or safety.
Commentary from tech leaders underscores the potential risks of powerful neural networks when misused. For example, concerns are raised that bad actors could exploit advanced AI to increase fraud and generate disinformation, highlighting the need for strong safeguards, clear accountability, and ongoing monitoring as part of any global AI governance approach.