Brussels: European Union member states and European Parliament negotiators agreed Thursday to ban artificial intelligence (AI) applications used to create non-consensual sexualized deepfakes. This decision marks a significant step in regulating AI technologies and their ethical implications, particularly concerning privacy violations and misuse of digital content.

According to Anadolu Agency, Marilena Raouna, Greek-administered Cyprus's deputy minister for European affairs, emphasized that the AI Act agreement will aid companies by reducing recurring administrative costs. This legislative move is part of the wider 'Omnibus VII' package, which aims to simplify the EU's digital legislative framework and establish harmonized rules on AI.

The statement from the EU further detailed that the new provision explicitly prohibits AI practices related to generating non-consensual sexual and intimate content or child sexual abuse material. The provisional agreement also introduces new timelines for high-risk AI rules, setting deadlines for Dec. 2, 2027, for stand-alone systems and Aug. 2, 2028, for AI embedded in products.

Additionally, the agreement mandates that providers register exempted systems in the EU high-risk database and reinstates the strict necessity standard for processing sensitive personal data to detect and correct bias.