The Compliance Clock Strikes: Brussels Begins Enforcing the AI Act, and Transatlantic University Partnerships Must Answer – by Dr. Jasmin (Bey) Cowin

New article published: The Compliance Clock Strikes: Brussels Begins Enforcing the AI Act, and Transatlantic University Partnerships Must Answer
As of yesterday, August 2, 2026, the European Commission’s AI Office and national market surveillance authorities hold the power to investigate, sanction, and compel compliance under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act. The framework that took effect in August 2024 has moved from legislative architecture to active enforcement.
⏰ The timeline has been running for some time. Prohibited practices became enforceable in February 2025. Technical documentation for newly placed general-purpose models came due in August 2025. Conformity assessments for high-risk systems reached their deadline this summer. What changed on August 2 is that the oversight machinery moved from preparation to practice.
🗞️ For universities, the question is no longer whether the Act applies but in what capacity. My article works through four scenarios that determine whether an institution carries provider obligations, deployer obligations, or both.
📖 Read the full piece in The Government View
https://lnkd.in/emyExZaW

Cowin, J. (2026, August 2). The compliance clock strikes: Brussels begins enforcing the AI Act, and the transatlantic university partnerships must answer. The Government View. https://thegovernmentview.com/world/the-compliance-clock-strikes-brussels-begins-enforcing-the-ai-act-and-the-transatlantic-university-partnerships-must-answer/

Unknown's avatar

Author: drcowinj

Dr. Jasmin (Bey) Cowin, an Associate Professor at Touro University, received the 2024 Touro University CETL Faculty Fellowship for Excellence in Teaching and the Rockefeller Institute of Government awarded her the prestigious Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellowship (2024-2025). As a Fulbright Scholar and SIT Graduate, she was selected to be a U.S. Department of State English Language Specialist. Her expertise in AI in education is underscored by her role as an AI trainer and former Education Policy Fellow (EPFP™) at Columbia University's Teachers College. As a columnist for Stankevicius, she explores Nicomachean Ethics at the intersection of AI and education. She has contributed to initiatives like Computers for Schools Burundi, served as a resource specialist for Amity University in Uttar Pradesh, India, and participated in TESOL "Train the Trainer" programs in Yemen and Morocco. Her research interests include simulations and metaverse for educators-in-training, AI applications in education and language acquisition and teaching, and distributed ledger technologies, with a focus on her 'Education for 2060' theme. In conclusion, my commitment extends beyond transactional interactions, focusing instead on utilizing my skills and privileges to make a positive, enduring impact on the world.