The European Commission (EC) plans to postpone restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) in the EU under pressure from technology lobbyists, writes the European publication Politico.
The implementation of regulations on “high-risk“ AI systems under the EU Artificial Intelligence Act is expected to be delayed by at least 1 year. This includes regulations on the use of AI in hiring, lending and exam marking.
The decision is due to active lobbying by the administration of US President Donald Trump and technology lobbyists in Brussels. European bureaucrats justify the move by citing the need to develop technical standards to help businesses comply with the new requirements.
„Part of the message Europe is sending to the rest of the world is that it is open to pressure from tech companies and other countries,“ said Natalie Helberger, professor of law and information technology at the University of Amsterdam. Daniel Loeffer, an analyst at the NGO Access Now, noted that the EC could condemn Europe to “months, if not years, of internal struggles and legal uncertainty without tangible benefits for the EU's competitiveness“.
In August 2024, the European Union introduced the Artificial Intelligence Law. Its provisions will enter into force gradually over a transition period of up to three years. The law regulates the development of neural networks and systems using artificial intelligence. Under its provisions, all artificial intelligence systems are divided into four categories depending on the degree of risk they may pose to humans: unacceptable, high, limited and minimal.