Ctrl+AI+Reg - 16 March 2026
Your shortcut to AI regulation, law and policy updates around the world.
AI Regulation Updates
In this issue:
Updates from EU (x2), UK (x3), US (x2), South Korea (x2), Indonesia (x2), Singapore, Turkey.
See more on my Global AI Regulation Tracker (English version | Chinese version)
Europe
🇪🇺 [13 March 2026] European Council agrees position to streamline rules on AI: The European Council has agreed on a proposal to streamline AI Act rules as part of the “Omnibus VII” legislative package aimed at simplifying the EU’s digital legislative framework and harmonizing AI regulations. Key amendments include a prohibition on generating non-consensual sexual content, a fixed timeline for applying high-risk AI rules, and obligations for AI system registration in the EU database. The proposal also postpones the establishment of AI regulatory sandboxes until December 2027 and clarifies the AI Office’s supervisory powers. Following the Council’s approval, negotiations with the European Parliament will commence, aligning with the European Council’s call for a simplified regulatory framework to boost competitiveness and reduce burdens on businesses, particularly SMEs.
🇪🇺 [11 March 2026] EU set to ban AI nudification apps in wake of Grok scandal: It is reported that the European Union is considering banning AI-powered ‘nudification’ tools, such as X’s Grok, which have been used to generate non-consensual explicit images of women and minors. This move follows a global backlash against Grok’s ‘spicy mode’ that allowed users to create sexualized deepfakes. A proposal set to be approved by EU ambassadors on Friday would make it illegal to market in EU any AI system that can generate non-consensual sexualized videos, images or audio files involving real people. For background, the European Commission has been investigating X (formerly Twitter) and Grok for potential violations of the Digital Services Act and is contemplating classifying such AI-generated sexual images as unacceptable risks under the AI Act. Additionally, over 100 organizations, including Amnesty International and Interpol, have called for urgent action against these tools, highlighting their significant threat to child safety and human dignity.