Methodology and limits

EU AI Compass Methodology

EU AI Compass converts EU AI Act source material into practical, privacy-first tools and evidence starters. This methodology page explains what the site uses, what it does not decide, and how users should treat the outputs.

What this page gives you

Source basis
How pages use legal text, official materials, standards references, and practical governance artifacts.
Boundary clarity
What the tools can help organise and what still needs legal, conformity, or sector review.
Privacy model
Why the site emphasises no-login, local-first, and evidence-starter workflows.

Source hierarchy

Source classUsed forBoundary
Official legal textArticle references, definitions, obligations, timing signals.Users must verify current text and jurisdictional implementation before relying on it.
Official Commission or authority materialsImplementation context, service desk references, and guidance signals.Guidance can change and may not answer every sector-specific question.
Standards and frameworksControl mapping, governance design, and evidence structuring.Standards access and certification interpretation require qualified review.
Practitioner controlsChecklists, logs, matrices, evidence prompts, and decision workflows.These are starter artifacts, not assurance opinions.

Privacy-first architecture

EU AI Compass is designed around browser-based, no-login, local-first tools where possible. The site does not need users to upload sensitive AI system details to produce basic triage outputs. Users should still avoid entering confidential, regulated, personal, or trade-secret information unless they have reviewed their own internal rules.

How tool outputs should be treated

Tool outputs should be treated as structured working notes. They can help classify facts, assign owners, locate missing evidence, and prepare review questions. They should not be treated as legal advice, certification, formal conformity assessment, or final regulatory determination.

Update governance

Regulatory pages should carry visible update and review dates where possible. High-volatility pages should separate current law from proposal-stage changes. Users should verify deadlines, national implementation, sector-specific guidance, and official forms on the day of publication or submission.

Known limitations

FAQ

Is EU AI Compass legal advice?

No. EU AI Compass is an educational and operational evidence-starter resource. Legal, conformity, sector, and enforcement decisions should be reviewed by qualified professionals.

Can I use tool outputs in an audit file?

You can use outputs as working evidence notes if your organisation reviews and approves them. Treat them as starter records that need owner sign-off, source verification, and evidence attachment.

Why include methodology on a free site?

Compliance content needs source clarity and boundary discipline. A methodology page helps users, search engines, and AI answer engines understand what the site is, what it supports, and what it cannot decide.

Source and review note

This page is educational. Review any legal, conformity, reporting, or sector-specific decision against Regulation (EU) 2024/1689, European Commission materials, national authority guidance, sector legislation, and qualified legal or conformity-assessment advice where relevant. EU AI Compass does not provide legal advice or certify compliance.