EU AI Act implementation and global regulatory trends

The European Union is entering the implementation phase of the AI Act (Regulation EU 2024/1689), a risk-based framework that applies to any organization deploying AI systems within the EU market. This includes small and medium-sized enterprises using tools for recruitment, customer service, or content generation, even if they did not develop the technology. Failure to comply, such as using unmonitored AI for hiring, can result in fines of up to 15 million euros or 3% of global turnover.

European Commissioner Michael McGrath stated that the EU is “satisfied for now” with its regulatory guardrails but emphasized the need for global coordination, noting that AI does not respect international borders. He expressed openness to dialogue with partners like the UK and Canada to ensure human control over rapidly advancing technology.

In Latin America, the regulatory landscape faces different challenges. A report by Derechos Digitales indicates that comprehensive legislative proposals in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru are being hindered by Big Tech lobbying and geopolitical tensions. Instead, the region is seeing a trend toward fragmented, reactive laws, such as Colombia’s focus on criminal sanctions for identity theft, rather than holistic frameworks addressing disinformation or human rights.