  This brief paper provides an introduction to non-discrimination law in
Europe. It answers the questions: What are the key characteristics of
non-discrimination law in Europe, and how do the different statutes relate to
one another? Our main target group is computer scientists and users of
artificial intelligence (AI) interested in an introduction to
non-discrimination law in Europe. Notably, non-discrimination law in Europe
differs significantly from non-discrimination law in other countries, such as
the US. We aim to describe the law in such a way that non-lawyers and
non-European lawyers can easily grasp its contents and challenges. The paper
shows that the human right to non-discrimination, to some extent, protects
individuals against private actors, such as companies. We introduce the EU-wide
non-discrimination rules which are included in a number of EU directives, and
also explain the difference between direct and indirect discrimination.
Significantly, an organization can be fined for indirect discrimination even if
the company, or its AI system, discriminated by accident. The last section
broadens the horizon to include bias-relevant law and cases from the GDPR, the
EU AI Act, and related statutes. Finally, we give reading tips for those
inclined to learn more about non-discrimination law in Europe.
