European Parliament approves landmark AI Act amendments after marathon vote

The European Parliament approved a comprehensive package of amendments to the EU Artificial Intelligence Act on Tuesday evening, following more than eleven hours of debate and what observers described as the most contentious tech vote of the current legislative term.

The amendments tighten restrictions on real-time biometric surveillance in public spaces, narrow the carve-outs for law enforcement, and impose new transparency obligations on providers of general-purpose AI models above the GPAI threshold.

“This is a defining moment for how Europe wants to balance innovation with fundamental rights,” said the rapporteur during the plenary session. The text now returns to trilogue negotiations with the Council and the Commission.

Industry groups expressed concern about compliance costs for SMEs, while civil liberties organisations welcomed the stricter biometric provisions but said significant loopholes remain.