Artificial Intelligence and Human Resources in the EU: a 2026 Legal Overview
Feb 24,26 | 01:31 EST
The year 2026 marks a major regulatory turning point for European companies using or considering the use of artificial intelligence in their human resources (HR) processes. Many AI tools deployed for HR purposes are likely to be classified as "high risk" under the AI Act, triggering strict obligations for employers, including mandatory human oversight and transparency requirements toward employees and their representatives. While full application of these obligations was initially scheduled for August 2026, the European Commission's Digital Omnibus package proposes to make the application conditional on the availability of harmonized technical standards, potentially extending deadlines to December 2027 or August 2028. Regardless of any postponement, employers are already required by Article 26(7) of the AI Act and national legislation to inform and consult employee representative bodies before deploying high-risk AI systems.
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