EU Issues Guidelines to Prevent AI Misuse In Workplaces, Online Platforms, And More

The European Commission published new guidelines on forbidden AI practices according to the European Union’s AI Act, two days after measures began to take effect. The document aims to provide clarity and warn about unacceptable AI applications such as social scoring, harmful manipulation, and real-time remote biometric identification.

According to Reuters, the new guidelines arrive as companies navigate the challenges and expenses of complying with the world’s first legislation regulating AI use which entered into force in August last year.

It was determined that measures would be applied gradually, and, a few days ago—on February 2—, the first measures came into effect, allowing authorities to ban activities that violate the AI Act, which will be fully applied next year, in August 2026.

In response to the new measures that came into effect this week, the new non-biding document warns employers about the use of AI to track their workers’ emotions and websites about manipulative strategies to make users spend money.

“These Guidelines aim to increase legal clarity and to provide insights into the Commission’s interpretation of the prohibitions in Article 5 AI Act with a view to ensuring their consistent, effective and uniform application,” states the 140-page document.

These updates enter into force just days before the Summit for Action on AI in Paris, scheduled for February 10 and 11. According to Le Monde, the event will gather heads of state as well as leaders of tech giants such as Elon Musk, Sundar Pichai, and Sam Altman.

The AI Act is expected to sanction companies that expose citizens to “unacceptable risk” with potential fines of up to 35 million euros or 7% of their annual revenue for breaches of the EU AI Act.