European Parliament approves landmark AI Act amendments after marathon vote
The European Parliament on Tuesday evening approved a comprehensive package of amendments to the EU Artificial Intelligence Act, following more than eleven hours of debate in what observers described as the most contentious technology vote of the current legislative term.
The amendments impose tighter restrictions on real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces, narrow the carve-outs available to law enforcement, and place new transparency obligations on providers of general-purpose AI models above the GPAI threshold.
‘This is a defining moment for how Europe wants to balance innovation with fundamental rights,’ the rapporteur said during the plenary session. The text now returns to trilogue negotiations with the Council and the Commission.
Industry groups expressed concern about compliance costs for SMEs, whilst civil liberties organisations welcomed the stricter biometric provisions but said significant loopholes remain.
