21/05/24 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 21 May, the EU27 ministers responsible for digital affairs unanimously approved the text of the Artificial Intelligence Act (see EUROPE 13370/28) (AI Act), the first of its kind to regulate AI in the EU. Among other things, the text classifies the different types of artificial intelligence according to their potential risk. AI systems such as cognitive behavioural manipulation and social scoring will be banned in the EU. The regulation also prohibits the use of AI based on profiling and systems that use biometric data to classify people according to categories such as race, religion or sexual orientation. The aim of this regulation was to set safeguards to protect citizens’ rights, while ensuring a European environment conducive to technological development. The text will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union very shortly. (IS)