CompliQuest

Course Overview

Using AI for social scoring? Banned. Real-time biometric identification in public spaces? Banned. Emotion recognition in workplaces or schools? Banned. Scraping faces from the internet for recognition databases? Banned.

The EU AI Act prohibits specific AI uses outright, and if you're using them, you're breaking the law right now.

This course shows you exactly what AI systems are banned, why, and how to make sure you're not accidentally using them.

The prohibited AI practices you will learn:

• Social scoring systems that rank people, 
• Real-time remote biometric identification (with limited exceptions), 
• Emotion recognition in workplaces and educational institutions, 
• Biometric categorization based on sensitive characteristics, 
• Manipulative AI that exploits vulnerabilities, 
• Subliminal techniques that cause harm, and 
• Untargeted scraping for facial recognition databases.

You'll understand the narrow exceptions like when law enforcement can use real-time biometrics (serious crimes only), what safeguards must exist for permitted uses, and how to document compliance if you're in an exception category.

You'll see real-world scenarios like HR tools that claim to detect emotions in interviews, workplace monitoring that analyses facial expressions, AI recruitment tools that profile based on protected characteristics, customer behaviour systems that manipulate purchasing decisions, educational platforms that track student emotions, and public space surveillance with facial recognition.

By the end, you'll know which AI systems you absolutely cannot use, how to identify prohibited features in existing tools, what questions to ask before adopting new AI, and what to do if you discover you're using banned AI.

Stop guessing if your AI use is legal. Learn the clear boundaries.

Modules

• Course overview – gain a high-level introduction to the categories of AI systems explicitly prohibited by the EU AI Act. Learn what these systems are, why they’re banned and how to identify them in real-world business contexts.
• Harmful manipulation: subliminal techniques – Understand how certain AI systems influence user behaviour without conscious awareness – through flashing images, hidden audio messages or fast changing visuals to affect emotions or decisions. You’ll learn how to spot these hidden techniques in AI systems, understand why they’re considered illegal and take steps to stay compliant.
• Harmful manipulation: purposefully manipulative and deceptive techniques – This module covers two dangerous types of AI behaviour that are banned under the EU AI Act: purposeful manipulation and deception. In this module, participants will learn how to avoid harmful design practices and choose systems that are ethical, transparent and legal.
• Harmful exploitation of vulnerabilities – Discover how some AI systems can unfairly target people who are more vulnerable, like children, older adults or users under financial stress. By the end of this module, participants will know how to recognize and avoid unethical or illegal AI practices that prey on vulnerable individuals
• Social scoring – Gain an insight into social scoring, a practice where AI gives people a score based on behaviour or personal traits – and then uses that score to make decisions in completely different areas. You’ll learn how to recognize when social scoring crosses the line, avoid systems that create hidden bias or discrimination and build fair, transparent AI tools that meet legal standards
• Individual risk assessment and prediction of criminal offences – This module focuses on AI systems that try to predict if someone will commit a crime based on profiling or behaviour analysis – and that is illegal under the EU AI Act. Participants will learn to spot AI systems that wrongly predict criminal behaviour, understand the ethical and legal implications behind these systems and stay compliant by setting clear boundaries on risk-based analytics.
• Untargeted scraping of facial images – Explore how AI systems collect and use facial images without consent and why this is a serious issue under the EU AI Act. You’ll learn how to identify when facial data is collected or used illegally and manage biometric data responsibly to reduce the risk of violating the EU AI Act.
• Emotion recognition – This section will cover AI systems that try to detect emotions by analysing things such as facial expressions, tone of voice, or body language. Although these tools may seem helpful, they often rely on unreliable data and can lead to bias or misjudgment. That’s why the EU AI Act prohibits them unless there's a specific legal reason. By the end of this session, you’ll know how to handle these systems responsibly and avoid non-compliant use.
• Real-time remote biometric identification systems for law enforcement purposes – This module explores real-time facial recognition in public spaces, one of the most restricted uses of AI under the EU AI Act. In this session, you’ll learn to tell the difference between legal and illegal use, understand when exceptions apply, and ensure your systems follow proper safeguards and documentation.
• What should businesses consider when using AI systems - This module covers the key considerations businesses need to keep in mind when implementing AI. Explore legal compliance, risk assessment, ethical considerations, and security measures to ensure AI systems operate responsibly and transparently.