BRUSSELS: The European Union is set next week to kickstart a rollback of landmark rules on artificial intelligence and data protection that face powerful pushback on both sides of the Atlantic.<\/p>\n
Part of a bid to slash red tape for European businesses struggling against US and Chinese rivals, the move is drawing accusations that Brussels is putting competitiveness ahead of citizens\u2019 privacy and protection.<\/p>\n
Brussels denies that pressure from the US administration influenced its push to \u201csimplify\u201d the bloc\u2019s digital rules, which have drawn the wrath of President Donald Trump and American tech giants.<\/p>\n
But the European Commission says it has heard the concerns of EU firms and wants to make it easier for them to access users\u2019 data for AI development \u2014 a move critics attack as a threat to privacy.<\/p>\n
One planned change could unite many Europeans in relief however: the EU wants to get rid of those pesky cookie banners seeking users\u2019 consent for tracking on websites.<\/p>\n
According to EU officials and draft documents seen by AFP, which could change before the November 19 announcement, the European Commission will propose:<\/p>\n
— a one-year pause in the implementation of parts of its AI law<\/p>\n
— overhauling its flagship data protection rules, which privacy defenders say will make it easier for US Big Tech to \u201csuck up Europeans\u2019 personal data.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bloc\u2019s cornerstone General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enshrined users\u2019 privacy from 2018 and influenced standards around the world.<\/p>\n
The EU says it is only proposing technical changes to streamline the rules, but rights activists and EU lawmakers paint a different picture.<\/p>\n
– \u2018Biggest rollback\u2019 –<\/p>\n
The EU executive proposes to narrow the definition of personal data, and allow companies to process such data to train AI models \u201cfor purposes of a legitimate interest,\u201d a draft document shows.<\/p>\n
Reaction to the leaks has been swift \u2014 and strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless the European Commission changes course, this would be the biggest rollback of digital fundamental rights in EU history,\u201d 127 groups, including civil society organizations and trade unions, wrote in a letter on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Online privacy activist Max Schrems warned the proposals \u201cwould be a massive downgrading of Europeans\u2019 privacy\u201d if they stay the same.<\/p>\n
An EU official told AFP that Brussels is also expected to propose a one-year delay on implementing many provisions on high-risk AI, for example, models that can pose dangers to safety, health or citizens\u2019 fundamental rights.<\/p>\n
Instead of taking effect next year, they would apply from 2027.<\/p>\n
This move comes after heavy pressure from European businesses and US Big Tech.<\/p>\n
Dozens of Europe\u2019s biggest companies, including France\u2019s Airbus and Germany\u2019s Lufthansa and Mercedes-Benz, called for a pause in July on the AI law which they warn risks stifling innovation.<\/p>\n
– More battles ahead –<\/p>\n
Commission president Ursula von der Leyen faces a battle ahead as the changes will need the approval of both the EU parliament and member states.<\/p>\n
Her conservative camp\u2019s main coalition allies have raised the alarm, with the socialists saying they oppose any delay to the AI law, and the centrists warning they would stand firm against any changes that undermine privacy.<\/p>\n
Noyb, a campaign group founded by Schrems, published a scathing takedown of the EU\u2019s plans for the GDPR and what they entail.<\/p>\n
The EU has pushed back against claims that Brussels will reduce privacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can confirm 100 percent that the objective… is not to lower the high privacy standards we have for our citizens,\u201d EU spokesman for digital affairs, Thomas Regnier, said.<\/p>\n
But there are fears that more changes to digital rules are on the way.<\/p>\n
– Simplification, not deregulation –<\/p>\n
The proposals are part of the EU executive\u2019s so-called simplification packages to remove what they describe as administrative burdens.<\/p>\n
Brussels rejects any influence from Trump \u2014 despite sustained pressure since the first weeks of the new US administration, when Vice President JD Vance railed against the \u201cexcessive regulation\u201d of AI.<\/p>\n
This \u201cstarted before the mandate of the president of the US,\u201d chief commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho said this week.<\/p>\n
Calls for changes to AI and data rules have been growing louder in Europe.<\/p>\n
A major report last year by Italian ex-premier Mario Draghi also warned that data rules could hamper European businesses\u2019 AI innovation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BRUSSELS: The European Union is set next week to kickstart a rollback of landmark rules on artificial intelligence and data protection that face powerful pushback on both sides of the Atlantic. Part of a bid to slash red tape for European businesses struggling against US and Chinese rivals, the move is drawing accusations that Brussels […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":514678,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-514659","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n