Concern 813 · Working draft · editorial review in progress
Prohibited practices
Prohibited AI practices are uses that a law does not allow because of defined risks; the concern is whether harmful conduct fits the legal definition and is stopped in practice.
Understanding the concern
A prohibition differs from a requirement to add a warning or complete an audit. Under the EU framework, certain manipulative, exploitative, scoring and biometric practices are restricted or prohibited under specific conditions. The precise wording matters because a broad label may include both covered and uncovered uses.
Think of a rule against a dangerous move in a sport: it is not enough to rename the move or claim the equipment passed inspection. At the same time, not every system using a related technology falls under the same ban. Public explanations should identify the conduct, affected people and applicable exceptions without suggesting that an exception makes every use acceptable.
An example
A provider describes a harmful scoring practice as personalization and assumes the new label avoids scrutiny.
Illustrative unless identified as a documented case.
Words in plain English
- AI
- Software that learns patterns from examples or uses rules to perform tasks such as recognizing images or generating text. It can make mistakes and does not understand every situation as a person would.
- EU
- The European Union, a group of European countries with shared institutions and some shared laws.
- Biometrics
- Measurements of physical or behavioral features, such as a face or voice, used to help identify people.
Evidence and its limits
The entry summarizes the idea of prohibition, not an exhaustive legal list. Definitions, exceptions and later amendments require checking in the applicable text.
European Commission · Regulatory explanation
Navigating the AI Act ↗ (opens in a new tab)Explains prohibited practices, scope and exceptions. Sensitive labels alone do not determine whether a particular use is prohibited.
Broader frameworks and background
These resources provide context. They do not establish every claim in this concern.
A question to discuss
What does the system actually do to people, and does that conduct fall within a prohibited practice?
Keep track of different views, what needs checking, and any next step in your own discussion notes.
Open discussion notes →Principles for the conversation
Before you finish · reflect together
Virtues and principles to consider
Virtues are qualities we practice in how we treat people and make choices. They are not scores for judging someone. Use these ideas to explore what a thoughtful response could look like.
Accountability
Accountability means being answerable for decisions and taking responsibility for repair. It requires more than saying that the software made the choice.
Name the person or team responsible, keep useful records, and give them authority to correct problems. Make the route to a complaint clear to the people affected.
Ask together: Who will answer for the outcome and help put things right?
Prudence
Prudence means using careful judgment before and during action. It balances worthwhile opportunities with the need to avoid harm that could have been anticipated.
Start with a limited trial, set stopping points, and prefer choices that can be undone when uncertainty is high. Review what happens rather than assuming the original plan remains sound.
Ask together: What is a careful next step, and when should we stop or change course?
Unity
Unity means working toward shared purposes while making room for real differences. It does not require everyone to have the same experience, beliefs, or opinion.
Look for a goal people can share, then explore disagreements about how to reach it. Make sure quieter or less powerful voices can influence the result.
Ask together: What purpose can we share while respecting our differences?
Editorial ratings
These are editorial judgments from the register, not measured probabilities or predictions about your situation.
About the register and scoring →More ways to explore
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