The European Commission on Wednesday unveiled new proposals to ease rules on AI and data privacy.
The EU has been trying to rein in tech companies on a variety of issues for years, but is also trying to balance this with the need to compete with tech companies in the United States and East Asia.
Europe ‘failing to keep up’ in tech race – Commissioner
“Europe has not yet reaped the full benefits of the digital revolution,” EU Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrowski said.
“And we cannot pay the price of failing to meet the demands of a changing world,” he stressed.
“By simplifying the rules, reducing the administrative burden and introducing more flexible and proportionate rules, we will continue to deliver on our commitment to give EU businesses more room to innovate and grow,” he said.
“Our rules should be added value, not burdens. This requires us to take urgent action to get rid of regulatory clutter,” EU Technology Commissioner Hanna Virkkunen told reporters in Brussels.
Which rules are to be simplified under the proposals?
The proposals unveiled on Wednesday include delaying stricter rules on the use of AI in “high-risk” areas until the end of 2027 and softer rules on the use of cookies.
Sectors considered high risk included biometric identification, utility supply, health, credit and law enforcement.
The EU executive also wants to establish that data will no longer be considered “personal” under privacy law, which could potentially pave the way for companies to use anonymized data of people in the EU for AI training.
Several companies, including Berlin-based multinational tech conglomerate Siemens and software company SAP based in southwestern Germany, have called for easing of AI rules in the EU.
Proposals could reduce cookie consent banners on websites
The Commission’s proposals also include changes to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which was implemented in 2018.
The law obliges operators of digital platforms to obtain consent from users before processing personal data.
Under the proposed changes, cookie consent banners will appear less frequently on websites and some digital activities will no longer require consent.
What are the criticisms of the proposals?
Meanwhile, critics have accused the commission of kowtowing to big tech.
“This is the biggest attack on Europeans’ digital rights in years. When the Commission says it ‘maintains the highest standards’, it is clearly false,” Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
The centrist faction in the EU Parliament said it supports efforts to “modernize” the rules, while also expressing concern.
“Simplification cannot come at the expense of safeguards that protect European people’s privacy, data and fundamental rights,” the bloc said.
Edited by: Wesley Rahn