The European Union’s long‑awaited AI Act has finally moved from paper to practice. As of February 2026, enforcement is active and the first substantial fines have been levied against companies that violated the new rules.
What’s Now Enforceable
The legislation was rolled out in phases, but by early 2026 a core set of obligations were already in force:
- Banned AI practices – Social scoring systems, real‑time biometric surveillance (with narrow exceptions), and any system that exploits vulnerable groups are prohibited. Violations carry the maximum penalty of 7 % of global annual revenue.
- Transparency obligations – Any AI system interacting with people must disclose it is an AI, deep‑fake content must be labelled, and chatbots must identify themselves as non‑human.
- High‑risk system requirements – AI used in hiring, credit scoring or other high‑impact domains must meet stringent safety and data protection standards.
"The EU’s AI Act is no longer a future concern. As of February 2026, enforcement is active, investigations are underway, and the penalties are severe — up to 7% of global annual revenue for the most serious violations," stated Michael Ouroumis, senior analyst at AIWire.
These first fines underscore the EU’s commitment to enforcing its AI Act and signal that companies operating across Europe must now prioritize compliance or face significant financial consequences.