European Union

In a new post on the Inside Privacy blog, our colleagues discuss the European Commission’s recent announcement of new standard contractual clauses for transfers of personal data to non-EU controllers and processors subject to the EU GDPR.

Continue Reading EU Commission Announces New SCCs for International Transfers to Non-EU Controllers and Processors Subject to the GDPR

On July 18, 2024, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was reconfirmed by the European Parliament for a second five-year term. As part of the process, she delivered a speech before the Parliament, complemented by a 30-page program, which outlines the Commission’s political guidelines and priorities for the next five years. The guidelines introduce a series of forthcoming legislative proposals across many policy areas, including on defence and technology security.Continue Reading The Future of EU Defence Policy and a Renewed Focus on Technology Security

On July 30, 2024, the European Commission announced the launch of a consultation on trustworthy general-purpose artificial intelligence (“GPAI”) models and an invitation to stakeholders to express their interest in participating in the drawing up of the first GPAI Code of Practice (the “Code”) under the newly passed EU AI Act (see our previous blog here). Once finalized, GPAI model providers will be able to voluntarily rely on the Code to demonstrate their compliance with certain obligations in the AI Act.Continue Reading European Commission Launches Consultation and Call for Expression of Interest on GPAI Code of Practice

On 12 July 2024, EU lawmakers published the EU Artificial Intelligence Act (“AI Act”), a first-of-its-kind regulation aiming to harmonise rules on AI models and systems across the EU. The AI Act prohibits certain AI practices, and sets out regulations on “high-risk” AI systems, certain AI systems that pose transparency risks, and general-purpose AI (“GPAI”) models.

The AI Act’s regulations will take effect in different stages.  Rules regarding prohibited practices will apply as of 2 February 2025; obligations on GPAI models will apply as of 2 August 2025; and both transparency obligations and obligations on high-risk AI systems will apply as of 2 August 2026.  That said, there are exceptions for high-risk AI systems and GPAI models already placed on the market:  Continue Reading EU Artificial Intelligence Act Published

On May 30, 2024, the Court of Justice of the EU (“CJEU”) handed down its rulings in several cases (C-665/22, Joined Cases C‑664/22 and C‑666/22, C‑663/22, and Joined Cases C‑662/22 and C‑667/22) concerning the compatibility with EU law of certain Italian measures imposing obligations on providers of online platforms and search engines.  In doing so, the CJEU upheld the so-called “country-of-origin” principle, established in the EU’s e-Commerce Directive and based on the EU Treaties principle of free movement of services.  The country-of-origin principle gives the Member State where an online service provider is established exclusive authority (“competence”) to regulate access to, and exercise of, the provider’s services and prevents other Member States from imposing additional requirements.

We provide below an overview of Court’s key findings.Continue Reading CJEU Upholds Country-of-Origin Principle for Online Service Providers in the EU

On May 17, 2024, the Council of Europe adopted the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law (the “Convention”).  The Convention represents the first international treaty on AI that will be legally binding on the signatories.  The Convention will be open for signature on September 5, 2024. 

The Convention was drafted by representatives from the 46 Council of Europe member states, the European Union and 11 non-member states (Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, the Holy See, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the United States of America, and Uruguay).  The Convention is not directly applicable to businesses – it requires the signatories (the “CoE signatories”) to implement laws or other legal measures to give it effect.  The Convention represents an international consensus on the key aspects of AI legislation that are likely to emerge among the CoE signatories.Continue Reading Council of Europe Adopts International Treaty on Artificial Intelligence

On May 20, 2024, a proposal for a law on artificial intelligence (“AI”) was laid before the Italian Senate.

The proposed law sets out (1) general principles for the development and use of AI systems and models; (2) sectorial provisions, particularly in the healthcare sector and for scientific research for healthcare; (3) rules on the national strategy on AI and governance, including designating the national competent authorities in accordance with the EU AI Act; and (4) amendments to copyright law. 

We provide below an overview of the proposal’s key provisions.Continue Reading Italy Proposes New Artificial Intelligence Law

Although the final text of the EU AI Act should enter into force in the next few months, many of its obligations will only start to apply two or more years after that (for further details, see our earlier blog here). To address this gap, the Commission is encouraging industry to take early, voluntary steps to implement the Act’s requirements through an initiative it is calling the AI Pact. With the upcoming European elections on the horizon, the Commission on 6 May 2024 published additional details on the AI Pact and encouraged organizations to implement measures addressing “critical aspects of the imminent AI Act, with the aim of curbing potential misuse” and contributing “to a safe use of AI in the run-up to the election.”Continue Reading European Commission Calls on Industry to Commit to the AI Pact in the Run-Up to the European Elections

On March 15, 2024, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached political agreement on the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

In a series of posts on Inside Privacy, our colleagues discuss the EHDS’ key takeaways, obligations on data holders, and obligations on data users.

Continue Reading Political Agreement on European Health Data Space

Earlier this week, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) cast their votes in favor of the much-anticipated AI Act. With 523 votes in favor, 46 votes against, and 49 abstentions, the vote is a culmination of an effort that began in April 2021, when the EU Commission first published its proposal for the Act.

Here’s what lies ahead:Continue Reading EU Parliament Adopts AI Act