Table of contents
After the GDPR in 2018, the AI Act is emerging as the second major pillar of European digital regulation. But how do these two texts fit together? Are they complementary or contradictory? And above all, how do you manage dual compliance?
GDPR and AI Act: a recap of the fundamentals
The GDPR (2018) protects the personal data of European citizens. It governs the collection, processing and storage of data. The AI Act (2024) regulates AI systems themselves, regardless of the data they process.
These two texts pursue distinct but converging objectives: protecting the fundamental rights of European citizens in the face of digital technologies.
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- blog_article12_gdpr_principle1
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Key differences
Although complementary, the GDPR and AI Act differ on several fundamental aspects:
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Detailed comparison table
Here is a point-by-point comparison of the two regulations:
| Criteria | blog_article12_table_gdpr | AI Act |
|---|---|---|
| blog_article12_row1_criteria | blog_article12_row1_gdpr | blog_article12_row1_aiact |
| blog_article12_row2_criteria | blog_article12_row2_gdpr | blog_article12_row2_aiact |
| blog_article12_row3_criteria | blog_article12_row3_gdpr | blog_article12_row3_aiact |
| blog_article12_row4_criteria | blog_article12_row4_gdpr | blog_article12_row4_aiact |
| blog_article12_row5_criteria | blog_article12_row5_gdpr | blog_article12_row5_aiact |
| blog_article12_row6_criteria | blog_article12_row6_gdpr | blog_article12_row6_aiact |
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Complementarities
The GDPR and AI Act reinforce each other on several aspects:
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Dual compliance strategy
Rather than managing both compliance efforts in silos, adopt an integrated approach:
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The role of the DPO in the face of the AI Act
The DPO (Data Protection Officer) is naturally on the front line for the AI Act. Their knowledge of data processing and governance makes them the ideal candidate to lead or co-lead AI compliance.
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However, the AI Act adds technical dimensions (model evaluation, bias testing, algorithmic documentation) that may require complementary skills.
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Assess your dual compliance
Our audit covers AI Act requirements and identifies synergies with your existing GDPR compliance.
Start free auditThe AI Act and GDPR are not competing but complementary regulations. Organisations that adopt an integrated approach will gain in efficiency and credibility. This is the opportunity to turn compliance into a genuine strategic advantage.
