Finance
EU Lawmakers Support Ban on AI Apps Generating Explicit Images
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 18, 2026
2 min readLast updated: March 18, 2026
Quick Summary
EU legislators endorse banning AI “nudification” apps that create unauthorized explicit imagery and pushed to include this in the AI Act, while agreeing to delay high‑risk AI rules to December 2, 2027.
EU Lawmakers Support Ban on AI Apps Creating Sexually Explicit Images Under AI Act
Key Developments in the EU AI Act and Proposed Ban
By Foo Yun Chee
Lawmakers Back Ban on Sexually Explicit AI Apps
BRUSSELS, March 18 (Reuters) - Key EU lawmakers, who are influential in shaping changes to Europe's AI Act, on Wednesday backed a ban on AI apps which create unauthorised sexually explicit images and urged that the bloc's landmark rules agreed two years ago include this ban.
Context of the Proposed Ban
The move comes a week after EU countries voted on a similar proposal ahead of talks between the lawmakers and EU governments on the European Commission's plan to water down parts of the AI Act so as not to lose ground in the global tech race.
Next Steps in Legislation
The European Parliament will vote on the group's proposal on March 26. Lawmakers and EU governments will then have to thrash out their differences before the changes proposed by the EU executive can be implemented.
Reactions and Concerns
Lawmakers' Statements
"A proposal to ban so-called nudification apps I believe is something that our citizens expect of the co-legislators," said lawmaker Michael McNamara, who is leading the forthcoming discussion with EU countries.
Recent Incidents Prompting Action
Sexually explicit content generated by Elon Musk's xAI chatbot Grok on X, as well as sexually intimate deepfakes produced by Grok, have triggered a crackdown by governments and regulators from Europe to Asia.
Implementation Timeline and High-Risk AI Systems
Delays and Alignment with EU Countries
The lawmakers also voted to delay certain rules on high-risk AI systems to December 2 next year, saying that key standards may not be finalised by August 2, which could create uncertainty for companies. This was in line with EU countries' position.
Phased Implementation of the AI Act
The AI Act will be implemented in phases.
(Reporting by Foo Yun CheeEditing by Bernadette Baum)
Key Takeaways
- •EU lawmakers want to explicitly prohibit AI applications that generate nonconsensual sexually explicit images (“nudification” apps) within the AI Act, reflecting rising concern over deepfake abuse.
- •The European Parliament will vote on this amendment on March 26, setting the stage for upcoming negotiations with EU governments before implementation.
- •High‑risk AI system obligations—originally slated for August 2026—are being delayed under the Digital Omnibus proposal, with Annex III compliance now pushed to December 2, 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions about EU lawmakers support ban on AI apps generating explicit images
1What did EU lawmakers propose regarding AI and explicit image apps?
EU lawmakers proposed banning AI applications that generate unauthorized sexually explicit images as part of the AI Act.
2When will the European Parliament vote on the proposal?
The European Parliament is scheduled to vote on the proposal on March 26.
3Why are changes being considered to the EU AI Act?
Changes are being discussed to prevent unauthorized sexually explicit content and to address concerns about the timeline for high-risk AI system standards.
4What is the timeline for implementing the AI Act's rules for high-risk AI systems?
The implementation of those rules may be delayed until December 2 next year due to concerns over finalizing key standards.
5Which recent incidents prompted stronger regulation of AI-generated explicit content?
Incidents involving xAI chatbot Grok generating explicit images have triggered regulatory crackdowns from Europe to Asia.
