The European Union reached a hard-fought deal on what is poised to become the most comprehensive regulation of artificial intelligence in the Western world.

Thierry Breton, the bloc¡¯s internal market chief, said the deal strikes a balance between fostering innovation and protecting the rights of people and companies.

¡°We spent a lot of time on finding the right balance between making the most of AI potential to support law enforcement while protecting our citizens¡¯ fundamental rights,¡± he said early Saturday in a statement. ¡°We do not want any mass surveillance in Europe.¡±