European Union: Internal Market and Consumer Protection and Civil Liberties Committees adopted position on Digital Omnibus on AI Regulation including provisions banning nudifier apps

On 18 March 2026, the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) and Civil Liberties (LIBE) committees of the European Parliament adopted their joint position on the proposal for a Digital Omnibus on AI Regulation. The joint position proposes postponing the application of several rules on high-risk AI systems due to delays in the development of relevant standards, while setting fixed application dates to provide predictability and legal certainty. Under the joint position, requirements for high-risk AI systems explicitly listed in the regulation would apply from 2 December 2027, and those covered under existing EU sectoral safety legislation would apply from 2 August 2028. It also provides additional time for providers to meet watermarking obligations for AI-generated content, with a revised extension until 2 November 2026. Furthermore, the position introduces a ban on applications that use AI to generate or manipulate sexually explicit or intimate images resembling identifiable individuals without consent, while exempting systems that include safeguards to prevent such use. Additionally, measures are included to increase flexibility and support smaller market actors, including permitting the processing of personal data to detect and correct bias in AI systems under several conditions, and extending certain support measures to small mid-cap enterprises. Following plenary approval, anticipated on 26 March, the Parliament will start negotiations with the Council.