The European Commission has proposed new rules aimed at closing gaps in the bloc’s legal framework for artificial intelligence. Under the plan, developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems could face stricter liability when their tools cause harm.

The move would extend aspects of the European Union’s product-liability regime to AI, reflecting growing concern that existing laws do not fully address damage linked to automated systems. Officials say the proposal is meant to give consumers clearer paths to compensation and accountability.

The draft comes as governments and regulators across Europe intensify scrutiny of AI in sectors such as hiring, finance, health care, and public services. Those uses can carry serious risks if systems fail, misfire, or are deployed without adequate safeguards.

The proposal will now move through the EU’s legislative process, where lawmakers and member states will debate its scope, enforcement, and possible impact on innovation. Any final rules could become a major test of how far Europe is willing to go in regulating fast-moving AI technology.

Product liability

EU proposes strict AI liability rules to cover high-risk harms