BRUSSELS – The European Union on Friday launched a new special team to keep AI companies around the world in check. It is one of the most aggressive regulations the high-tech sector has faced so far – and the fear of what technology can do to people, politics and prosperity is greater than ever.
Brussels will now track the use of AI models that violate the new regulations. This applies to everything from the publication of sexually explicit material and fake images and videos – to cyber threats to public infrastructure. When the European Union’s AI law comes into force on Sunday, AI companies will be required to label consumers with labels or digital watermarks that clarify that the content has been generated by artificial intelligence.
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Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s chief technology sovereignty officer, said on Friday:
Will stop “systemic risks”
The European Commission states in a statement that the new regulations also include “systemic risks” caused by AI – such as chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents, loss of control, cybercrime, harmful manipulation and threats to fundamental rights.
The team is the latest step in the EU’s strategy for “technology sovereignty,” which combines cutting-edge digital regulations with economic ambition. In the past week, this has led to billions of euros in fines for Big Tech companies – as well as record investments in AI infrastructure within the bloc.
The launch comes in the wake of several shocking security flaws in AI that have shaken the nascent industry. Political leaders around the world are now considering control of the technology against market leadership.
Anthropic reported on Friday that its AI models hacked three other organizations during testing – just days after ChatGPT maker OpenAI expressed concern about a lack of AI controls, after it revealed that its unauthorized models had hacked another company.
38 new employees to oversee the AI giants
The EU is now expanding its AI office in Brussels with 38 new employees. They will monitor AI companies – from new start-ups to US and Chinese tech giants such as OpenAI and DeepSeek.
The companies must “document certain information” and give the European Commission the right to interview employees during investigations. The European Union has also launched a whistleblower tool for tech workers and a compliance tool for users, allowing them to notify authorities of illegal behaviour – confidentially.
If models or other products violate the EU’s sectoral regulations – called the AI law – Brussels can fine the companies or cut off access to the EU market. Recent gigantic competition fines against US tech companies have already irritated US President Donald Trump.
The EU’s third place in the AI race
The EU is now clearly seeing the systemic vulnerability of its deep reliance on US software companies such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft – as well as imports of Chinese industrial goods and critical minerals. Although they seek protection from AI, they are also eager to catch up with the AI arms race, where they currently sit in a good third place behind the US and China.
More broadly, the EU is seeking greater independence from both Washington and Beijing – by reviving domestic industries such as manufacturing and defence, and striking new trade deals from Brazil to Australia to meet the global rise in economic nationalism led by Trump.
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