AI: European Parliament gives the green light to a ban on “nudifier” apps and to simplification measures

Strasbourg, by our correspondent – Intimate images generated by artificial intelligence are on their last legs in the European Union following the Parliament’s decision against “nudifier” apps. Today (16 June), the European Parliament has definitively adopted, with 423 votes in favour, 57 against, and 174 abstentions, an amendment to certain provisions of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) as part of the Digital Omnibus proposal. The measure introduces a total ban on AI systems that generate child sexual abuse material or that create, without consent, images, videos and audio depicting the private parts of an identifiable person or sexually explicit activities. 

Suppliers will not be permitted to place such systems on the EU market unless they are equipped with appropriate technical safeguards, and the ban will also apply to users. Although businesses have until 2 December 2026 to comply, co-rapporteur Michael McNamara has pointed out that the total ban on these applications will come into force before the end of this year. 

In addition to this tightening, the package reduces the administrative burden on businesses while maintaining the Act’s risk-based approach. To ensure the necessary standards are in place, certain deadlines for high-risk systems have been postponed to 2 December 2027 for standalone systems and to 2 August 2028 for those integrated as safety components. The requirement for legible labelling of AI-generated content, intended to increase transparency, has also been postponed to 2 December 2026. 

The amendments introduce significant simplifications: manufacturers of machinery that uses AI will only have to comply with sector-specific safety regulations, thereby avoiding overlaps. It is clarified that products with AI functions limited to assisting users or optimising performance will not automatically be considered high-risk if a malfunction does not pose a health risk. It will also be possible to process personal data to correct biases in AI systems; the exemptions provided for SMEs are extended to small and medium-cap enterprises (SMCs), and the application of the rules for certain general-purpose AI systems is simplified through the European AI Office. 

Co-rapporteur Arba Kokalari explained that these measures “put the implementation of the law on hold in order to reduce red tape, facilitating the establishment and continued operation of technology companies in Europe.” The legislation forms part of the seventh simplification package proposed by the European Commission on 19 November 2025 (Omnibus VII). Before coming into force, the law must be formally adopted by the Council, while most of the provisions of the AI Act will apply from 2 August 2026.