The European Commission is reportedly considering hitting pause on key parts of its landmark AI legislation, bowing to mounting pressure from Big Tech and the U.S., the Financial Times reported Friday.
The move comes after months of pressure from tech giants such as Meta (META.O) and Alphabet (GOOGL.O), along with warnings from the Trump administration against measures that could spark trade tensions.
The EU has been in talks with the Trump administration over tweaks to the AI Act and other digital rules, as part of a broader simplification effort set to be adopted on November 19, a senior EU official told the Financial Times.
This illustration, taken on December 21, 2023, features the words ‘AI’ and ‘Artificial Intelligence,’ a miniature robot, and the EU flag. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration Purchase Licensing Rights
FaqInsurances was unable to immediately verify the report, and the EU did not promptly respond to requests for comment.
In July, a European Commission spokesperson brushed off calls from certain companies and countries to pause the AI rules, insisting they would be implemented on schedule under the law.
Discussions are ongoing within the Commission over possible delays to "targeted parts of the AI Act," an EU spokesperson told the Financial Times. They added that while several options are under consideration, the EU remains "fully behind the AI act and its objectives."
The legislation took effect in August 2024, though many of its provisions are set to roll out gradually over the coming years.
