EU Issues Guidance on AI Act's Prohibited Uses as First Compliance Deadline Passes

The European Commission outlines banned AI practices and provides non-binding guidelines to ensure consistent application of the law across member states.

The European Union's AI Act, effective since March 2024, prohibits eight high-risk AI practices, including social scoring, emotion tracking in workplaces, and real-time biometric identification in public spaces.
The first compliance deadline for the AI Act passed on February 2, 2025, with additional phased deadlines extending through August 2026.
Violations of the Act's prohibited use cases can result in fines of up to 7% of global revenue or €35 million, whichever is greater.
The European Commission's guidance, released February 4, 2025, provides legal explanations and practical examples to help companies comply but is not legally binding.
EU member states have until August 2, 2025, to designate authorities responsible for enforcing the AI Act, with enforcement expected to be staggered over time.