The European Union’s landmark AI Act, designed to regulate AI technologies and protect citizens from potential harms, is facing criticism after several EU governments successfully lobbied for expanded surveillance powers. Internal documents reveal that countries such as France, Italy, Sweden, Lithuania, and Hungary have pushed provisions allowing AI‑powered surveillance systems to be used more broadly by law enforcement, especially for national security purposes .
Key amendments now permit police to deploy AI surveillance in public spaces, use real‑time facial‑recognition in prisons and border zones, and extend AI monitoring to a range of criminal investigations, including environmental crimes. These changes will take effect in the second phase of the AI Act’s implementation, set for February 2, raising alarms among digital‑rights advocates who warn the Act could enable mass surveillance and undermine privacy and civil liberties .
Critics argue that while the AI Act aims to foster trust in AI and promote innovation, the loopholes exploited by member states risk compromising fundamental rights under the guise of security. The debate underscores the tension between harnessing AI’s benefits and safeguarding democratic freedoms, a balance that will shape the regulation’s impact across the EU .
As the implementation date approaches, the controversy highlights the need for vigilant oversight to ensure the AI Act fulfills its protective intent rather than becoming a tool for unchecked state surveillance.
