Employers will be banned from using artificial intelligence to track their staff’s emotions and websites will not be allowed to use it to trick users into spending money under EU AI guidelines announced on Tuesday.
The guidelines from the European Commission come as companies grapple with the complexity and cost of complying with the world’s first legislation on the use of the technology.
The Artificial Intelligence Act, binding since last year, will be fully applicable on Aug. 2, 2026, with certain provisions kicking in earlier, such as the ban on certain practices from Feb. 2 this year.
“The ambition is to provide legal certainty for those who provide or deploy the artificial intelligence systems on the European market, also for the market surveillance authorities. The guidelines are not legally binding,” a Commission official told reporters.
Prohibited practices include AI-enabled dark patterns embedded in services designed to manipulate users into making substantial financial commitments, and AI-enabled applications which exploit users based on their age, disability or socio-economic situation.
AI-enabled social scoring using unrelated personal data such as origin and race by social welfare agencies and other public and private bodies is banned, while police are not allowed to predict individuals’ criminal behaviour solely based on their biometric data if this has not been verified.
Employers cannot use webcams and voice recognition systems to track employees’ emotions, while mobile CCTV cameras equipped with AI-based facial recognition technologies for law enforcement purposes are prohibited, with limited exceptions and stringent safeguards.
EU countries have until Aug. 2 to designate market surveillance authorities to enforce the AI rules. AI breaches can cost companies fines ranging from 1.5% to 7% of their total global revenue.
The EU AI Act is more comprehensive than the United States’ light-touch voluntary compliance approach while China’s approach aims to maintain social stability and state control.
Claiming the title of the “world’s most renowned satchel brand” Cambridge Satchel is on the expansion trail again. The made-in-Britain leather goods company has opening its fourth UK store, close to the King’s Berkshire residence, Windsor Castle. The 46.2 sq m Grade II-listed retail unit is close to tourist-busy Windsor Royal Station and Cambridge Satchel says the space is “its most ambitious store design to date”.
Following on from its London Covent Garden, Cambridge and Leeds stores, the new opening has been co-designed by CEO Carine de Koenigswarter and architects Atelier A&D to “create a bold and beautiful design, taking inspiration from the Art Deco movement”.
A double-height ceiling has been reinstated to showcase a double-sided entrance while a concealed and illuminated coffer at a higher level “creates an extra sense of lightness and height”.
A listed fireplace has been also been reinstated and offset with a large lightbox showcasing the brand’s products. Front windows feature a series of custom-built Sheffield steel cubes “applying an extra sense of luxury”.
Finally, a central circle of custom-made joinery allows customers to browse and shop small leather goods and charms.
In additional to the brand’s main collection, additional product includes an exclusively designed range tailored towards the historic royal town including a Union Jack Heart, a Crown as well as a named Windsor charm that’s part of its new ‘Swizzles Love Hearts’ collection. A Corgi and Guardsman charm completes the options in a location globally known for its royal connections.
“Known for its rich British history and tradition of education, our Windsor location reflects Cambridge Satchel’s dedication to scholarship and British craftsmanship, offering international visitors the chance to own a piece of what makes Britishness so unique,” said de Koenigswarter.
And more than hinting there’s more to come of the expansion front, she added: “Following the successful openings in Leeds and Windsor, we are continuing to expand our retail presence in key cities.”
It’s not just mainstream fashion brand collections M&S is focused on launching. The high street retail giant has linked up with UK charity YoungMinds to launch a competition for young people to create a design that will be introduced in-store linked to this year’s M&S/YoungMinds ‘Hello Yellow’ kidswear collection.
We’ll have to wait until autumn for the winners’ launch as it’s going to neatly tie into World Mental Health Day.
Spearheaded by M&S x YoungMinds partnership ambassador and mother Rochelle Humes and combining with Children’s Mental Health Week, the competition invites young people across the UK to design a sweatshirt or hoodie that will be sold in M&S stores across the UK and online. All profits will be donated to YoungMinds to help more young people feel supported with their mental health.
The designs will feature on two special pieces in the collection, reflecting the age categories for the competition – 5-11 and 12-16 year-olds – with one winner chosen from each.
The winners, along with their parents/guardians, will get exclusive behind the scenes access to see their ideas become a reality, visiting the M&S support centre in London to see their design turned into the artwork, visiting the supplier factory in the Midlands to see the products being printed, and being part of the launch.
The winners will also receive enough sweatshirts or hoodies featuring their designs for everyone in their class to wear on the annual ‘Hello Yellow’ event when teachers, pupils, parents and colleagues wear the specific colour on that day, “to show young people that they are not alone with their mental health”.
Victoria McKenzie-Gould, corporate affairs director at M&S, said: “With the incredible support of our colleagues and customers, we’re proud to have raised over £3 million in just over one year to support young people’s mental health. Together with YoungMinds, we’re building a coalition of the hopeful and showing young people they’re never alone and there is support available when they need it most.”
Fashion e-tailer In The Style has unveiled its first 2025 collaboration collection with BBC Strictly Come Dancing 2024 show winner, Dianne Buswell. The new collection has just dropped featuring looks based around a week in Buswell’s life as a professional dancer.
The concept includes matching active and comfort looks, with the brand’s best-selling sculpt and control leggings and unitards featuring alongside its split-hem leggings and flares. Also, the brand’s power mesh technology, used in its ‘sculpt and control’ collection, has been extended to include the unitards for the new release, its noted.
“Staying true to her own life and schedule”, the collection also reflects 99% of her wardrobe in a mix of active and athleisure, Buswell said: “It’s great to be able to put together an authentic collection that is full of pieces that are practical, stylish and comfortable to complement a busy and active lifestyle.”
Phoebe Russell, marketing director of In the Style, added: “We are best known for our celebrity and influencer-based collaborations, and this one to kick off 2025 is one to be excited about. When deciding on our collections, we want to lean into people who wear these wardrobe staples day in and day out, and when it comes to activewear, we really knew Dianne would be such an asset.”