EU Launches Consultations on AI Act Code of Practice on Transparency
The European Union (EU) is taking significant steps to assist AI system developers and providers in adhering to the upcoming AI Act. To this end, the EU is working on creating comprehensive guidelines and a Code of Practice aimed at defining transparency obligations for specific categories of AI systems, particularly those involving biometric categorization and emotion recognition.
Consultation Process
The European Commission has initiated a consultation process to gather insights from various stakeholders involved in AI systems. This consultation is open until October 2nd and invites contributions from providers and deployers of AI technologies, including those that generate or manipulate content, such as deepfake technology.
Key participants in this consultation include:
- Providers and deployers of biometric categorization and emotion recognition systems
- Organizations that offer AI-generated content
- Entities deploying systems that interact with users
Transparency Obligations
The forthcoming guidelines and code of practice will focus on the transparency obligations laid out in Article 50 of the AI Act. This article mandates that individuals should be informed when they are interacting with an AI system, which is crucial for mitigating risks associated with deception, impersonation, and misinformation.
For instance, deployers of emotion recognition and biometric categorization systems are required to notify individuals about their exposure to these technologies, especially during law enforcement activities. Similarly, providers of generative AI systems must clearly mark AI-generated content, ensuring users are aware they are communicating with an AI.
Stakeholder Participation
The consultation is open to a wide range of stakeholders, including:
- Private and public sector organizations
- Academic and research experts
- Civil society representatives
- Supervisory authorities
- Citizens
The planned Code of Practice is intended to be a voluntary tool that ensures proper compliance with the transparency requirements. Stakeholders will be invited to participate in drafting the document and selecting leaders for the working groups. The first plenary session is expected to occur in early November, with the drafting process anticipated to conclude by June 2026.
Call for Participation
In addition to the consultation, the Commission has launched a call for expressions of interest to engage participants in developing the first Code of Practice specifically focused on Transparent Generative AI Systems, which is also open until October 2nd.
Regulatory Simplification
The EU is also working towards simplifying regulation to promote its technology industry, which includes streamlining the AI Act to facilitate innovation and adoption within the AI sector.
As the EU navigates the complex landscape of AI regulation, these consultations represent a proactive approach to ensure that stakeholders can contribute to a framework that balances innovation with accountability and transparency.
