EU set to ban AI facial recognition technology in public spaces

The European Parliament will vote on Thursday on a proposal to ban the use of live facial recognition technology in public spaces as part of the world's first artificial intelligence (AI) laws. The ban is part of a package of proposals that could see companies fined up to €10m or removed from trading in the EU for breaches of the rules. The proposed amendment to Article 5 of the proposed AI Act prohibits the use of cameras to follow people in public places and also bans companies from using AI to identify individuals by matching scans on CCTV with images posted on social media platforms. The AI Act has been in the making for almost two years and is expected to become the gold standard of regulation around the world.