European Union’s AI Act and Data Privacy Regulations in 2025

The European Union continues to lead in data protection with several significant updates:​

• EDPB Work Programme 2024-2025: Focuses on assessing personal data access by public authorities, issuing guidelines to promote GDPR understanding, and ensuring consistent application of GDPR, especially in cross-border cases.​

• Coordinated Enforcement Action on Right to Erasure: The EDPB has selected the implementation of the ‘right to be forgotten’ as the topic for its fourth Coordinated Enforcement Action in 2025, aiming to evaluate how controllers implement this right and identify best practices.​

• EU AI Act: Introduces comprehensive regulations for AI systems in Europe, with the first section effective from February 1, 2025, prohibiting certain high-risk AI applications. Key features include harmonized rules across EU member states, a framework for market surveillance, specific requirements for high-risk AI systems, and transparency rules.​

These initiatives underscore the EU’s commitment to fostering innovation while protecting fundamental rights and ensuring the ethical use of data and AI technologies.​

Source: PrivacyPerfect – Global Trends in Privacy, Security & AI Regulations in 2025