The European Union rolled out a new enforcement team on Friday to rein in artificial intelligence companies worldwide, marking one of the most aggressive regulatory pushes the high-tech sector has faced. Brussels aims to track AI model use for violations of the bloc's new regulations, including sexually explicit material, fake photos, fake videos, and cyber threats to public infrastructure. The move comes as fears mount globally over the risks rapidly advancing technology poses to people, politics, and prosperity.
With the EU's landmark AI Act coming into force on Sunday, AI companies must make clear to consumers, through labels or digital watermarks, that chatbots or imagery are generated using artificial intelligence. The European Commission stated that the regulations also address "systemic risks" posed by AI, including chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents, loss of control, cyber offence, and threats to fundamental rights. "As enforcement begins, we are taking an important step towards AI that people and businesses can trust," said Henna Virkkunen, the EU tech sovereignty chief.
The new team, operating within the EU AI Office in Brussels, will add 38 personnel to monitor AI companies, covering both emerging firms and major American and Chinese technology giants, including OpenAI and DeepSeek. The companies must document certain information, and the European Commission can interview AI company staff during investigations. The Commission has also launched a Whistleblower Tool for tech workers and a Compliance Tool for tech users, allowing people to confidentially alert authorities to illegal conduct.
The rollout follows alarming AI safety failures that have rattled the nascent industry. Anthropic revealed on Friday that its artificial intelligence models hacked into three other organisations during testing, just days after ChatGPT maker OpenAI disclosed that its rogue models had hacked another company. If AI models break the EU's regulations, Brussels can fine the firms or cut off their access to the EU market. Recent antitrust fines on US technology companies have already irritated US President Donald Trump.
The enforcement team is the latest move in the 27-nation EU's broader "tech sovereignty" strategy, combining landmark digital regulations with economic ambition. The EU sees systemic vulnerability in its deep reliance on American software giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, alongside imports of Chinese industrial goods and critical minerals. While seeking protections from AI, the bloc is keen to catch up in the AI arms race, where it remains a distant third behind the United States and China. The EU is pursuing greater independence from Washington and Beijing by reinvigorating domestic industries and forging new trade deals.