EU bans AI nudification apps, delays high-risk AI enforcement to 2027

The European Union has finalized an agreement to ban AI systems that generate non-consensual sexually explicit content, including nudification apps, as part of the AI Act. The prohibition, not originally proposed by the European Commission, was pushed through by the European Parliament and Council, requiring companies to comply by December 2, 2026. The ban exempts systems with existing safety measures preventing misuse. The AI Act also delays enforcement of high-risk AI rules by over a year, pushing them to 2027. This move simplifies and streamlines the regulatory framework while addressing concerns over deepfake technology and synthetic media. The ban contrasts sharply with India’s approach, where the IT Amendment Rules 2026 impose obligations only on platforms and intermediaries to prevent the creation and sharing of unlawful synthetically generated information. India’s rules, notified in February 2026, require a three-hour takedown window for content like child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and non-consensual intimate imagery (NCII) but do not prohibit nudification tools themselves. MediaNama’s RTIs reveal no confirmed platform compliance with these rules. India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, further lacks content regulation, leaving nudification tools entirely unregulated. The DPDP Rules, notified in November 2025, focus on data protection obligations enforceable from May 2027, without addressing AI-generated content risks. Meanwhile, the EU’s decision underscores a stricter regulatory stance on AI-driven harm, particularly for vulnerable groups. The EU’s nudification ban was championed by Michael McNamara, an Irish MEP and co-rapporteur for the civil liberties committee, as part of broader efforts to curb AI misuse. The agreement reflects a balance between innovation and protection, though enforcement timelines remain a point of debate.