Does the EU AI Act apply to sole traders?
Yes, if you use an AI system in the business.
Drafted with AI help and checked against the official EU text before publishing.
Yes, if you use an AI system in the business. The Act names natural persons as well as companies as providers and deployers. Working alone does not switch the literacy or transparency duties off.
The carve-out is personal, non-professional activity — not “I have no staff”. SME fine caps can still help a small trader. They are not a pass from the duties.
This is general information, not legal advice.
What the law actually says
"‘deployer’ means a natural or legal person, public authority, agency or other body using an AI system under its authority except where the AI system is used in the course of a personal non-professional activity;"— EU AI Act, Article 3(4) (Regulation (EU) 2024/1689) · eur-lex.europa.eu
In plain words
- A sole trader is a natural person. Article 3(4) covers natural persons using AI under their authority at work.
- The carve-out is personal, non-professional activity — not “I have no staff”.
- Article 4 literacy still applies from 2 February 2025. Article 50 transparency still applies from 2 August 2026 where that article reaches your use.
- SME fine caps in Article 99(6) can still help a small trader. They are not a pass from the duties.
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