Netherlands: Data Protection Authority published report on artificial intelligence and algorithms with a focus on emotion recognition systems

On 15 July 2025, the Dutch Data Protection Authority (AP) published its fifth edition report on Artificial Intelligence (AI and algorithms, highlighting the growing use yet contested effectiveness of AI emotion recognition systems across sectors, including customer service, healthcare, and wearables. The report warns these systems risk infringing fundamental rights, including privacy and autonomy and stresses organisations must critically assess, transparently deploy, and secure consent when using them. The report highlighted that since February 2025, AI emotion recognition has been banned in education and workplaces in the Netherlands, with broader regulation and political debate ongoing. The AP also emphasises the need for mature AI governance through mandatory algorithm registration, audits, and bias reduction. It also noted progress on harmonised AI standards and the increasing role of AI in national strategies amid evolving European AI regulation frameworks.