You Can’t Regulate Programming: How the EU AI Act May Kill Software

Reddit r/artificial News

Summary

This opinion piece argues that the EU AI Act's broad regulation of algorithms could have severe unintended consequences for software development, potentially criminalizing common programming practices.

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Cached at: 05/19/26, 08:42 AM

# You Can’t Regulate Programming: How the EU AI Act May Kill Software Source: [https://medium.com/@jankammerath/you-cant-regulate-programming-how-the-eu-ai-act-may-kill-software-9914ab61df00?sk=87b0c837d8deb60cd47508fd2d4dab77](https://medium.com/@jankammerath/you-cant-regulate-programming-how-the-eu-ai-act-may-kill-software-9914ab61df00?sk=87b0c837d8deb60cd47508fd2d4dab77) [![Jan Kammerath](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fill:64:64/1*f1ckfFZTi4jOIEO6ZPO8CQ.jpeg)](https://medium.com/@jankammerath?source=post_page---byline--9914ab61df00---------------------------------------) Imagine serving a 5 year prison sentence because your recursive function had over 42 recursions\. Sounds ridiculous, right? But it’s not too far from what is currently happening the EU AI Act, the European Unions latest regulation on programming computer software\. In an attempt to regulate rising challenges with “Artificial Intelligence”, the EU created a monstrosity that regulates all algorithms, all software, and all programming of such\. > **Disclaimer:**The two fruit slop images in this article were generated with AI, everything else is personally handwritten\. I mark AI generated contents, because my readers demand and deserve it, not because the government asked me to\. AI slop can be fun, but only if you get to decide to intentionally consume it\. Slop should never be promoted, declared or labelled as human work\. Press enter or click to view image in full size Imprisonment for writing a fruit slop app? Luckily that’s just fearmongering \(This image is AI generated\)Good government regulation is**Clear and Predictable**,**Outcome\-Oriented**as well as**Enforceable and Practical**\. If you drive on the motorway and your speed over ground exceeds the displayed speed limit, you’ll face a traffic fine\. If you fly your aircraft below minimum altitude, you risk a fine and may even lose your pilot license\. Vehicle traffic and aviation regulations are clear, predictable, outcome\-oriented, practical and enforceable\. You and me, the people, know exactly when we cross the red line…

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