Italy and Hungary Falter in Establishing Essential Bodies for AI Act Compliance
The Countdown for AI Protections Hits a Roadblock
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The time's up! The deadline for appointing authorities safeguarding fundamental rights was supposed to be met by November 2024. The European Commission has shared that Italy and Hungary have failed to meet this legal deadline as per the EU's AI Act requirements.
A Commission spokesperson assured our website that they are working with these problematic states to help them meet this obligation. Each of the 27 EU member states had a year ago to identify the authorities responsible and make the list public.
The number of appointed authorities varies among the member states, depending on the implementation of domestic laws and the power granted to the watchdogs. For instance, Bulgaria listed nine authorities, such as the national Ombudsman and Data Protection Authority. In contrast, Portugal mentioned 14 authorities, Slovakia just two, and Spain a whopping 22.
"We are collaborating with member states to ensure a common understanding of which public authorities or bodies should be designated and effective cooperation between these public authorities and bodies and the future market surveillance authorities," the spokesperson commented.
The AI Act was put into action in August 2022, and members states should have their market surveillance authorities appointed by August this year. The Commission has yet to disclose which countries haven't officially notified their watchdogs.
Insights:
- By May 2025, EU member states are required (under the AI Act) to have a minimum of one notifying authority and one market surveillance authority to oversee the AI Act's implementation and enforcement in relation to fundamental rights protections.
- While some member states have appointed these authorities, others, such as Italy and Hungary, have missed the deadline. The European Commission is working to address this issue and have these countries meet their obligations.
- The exact status of these authorities, their names, and specifics are subject to change and may not be up-to-date, and one should consult official publications from the European Commission or the respective national governments for the most accurate information.
Further Reading
- Big Tech dilutes AI Code of Practice: Report
- EU standards bodies flag delays in working on AI Act
- Industry flags 'serious concerns' with latest draft of EU AI code of practice
- fundamental rights
- AI Act
- EU Policy
- Artificial intelligence
- To meet the obligations set by the EU's AI Act, the European Commission is currently collaborating with countries like Italy and Hungary that missed the deadline for identifying and designating authorities responsible for ensuring accessibility, security, and protection of fundamental rights in AI deployment and technology use.
- By May 2025, as per the AI Act, each EU member state is required to have at least one notifying authority and one market surveillance authority to oversee the implementation and enforcement of the Act, focusing on important aspects like deadline adherence and effective cooperation between public authorities.
- In order to stay updated on the progress of these authorities, potential appointments, and any changes in their status, it is essential to consult official publications from the European Commission or the respective national governments for the most accurate information.
