EU artificial intelligence regulation and guidelines

European regulatory and institutional bodies are establishing frameworks for the governance and ethical application of artificial intelligence.

Initially, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) addressed the intersection of AI and net neutrality. BEREC determined that AI-driven content processing occurs at the application level rather than the network layer, placing it outside the scope of current EU net neutrality regulations. This period also saw debates regarding AI safety and the potential for increased state control through mechanisms such as an AI ‘emergency brake’ and expanded audit rights.

Subsequently, the European Commission expanded its focus to the academic sector by releasing the fourth version of the ERA Living Guidelines. These updated guidelines provide frameworks for the use of generative and agentic AI in research. The guidelines mandate that researchers remain fully accountable for their work, prohibiting AI from being credited as an author or owner. Furthermore, the Commission established transparency standards requiring the disclosure of substantial AI use in tasks like hypothesis development or data interpretation, while noting that the variable nature of AI outputs may affect research reproducibility.