The European Commission is considering pausing part of its innovative legislation on artificial intelligence (AI), in response to pressure exerted by large technology companies and the United States government, according to the Financial Times this Friday, November 7th.
This decision comes after months of requests from technology giants such as Meta and Alphabet, in addition to pressure from the Trump administration, which warned of possible measures that could worsen trade tensions.
A senior EU official revealed that the European Union has been in dialogue with the Trump administration about adjustments to the AI Act and other digital regulations, as part of a broader simplification process, which is expected to be adopted on November 19.
Reuters, for its part, says it was unable to immediately verify this report and that the EU has not yet responded to the agency’s requests for comment.
In July, a European Commission spokesperson rejected calls from some companies and countries for a pause, saying AI rules would be implemented according to the legal timeline set out in the legislation.
However, discussions continue within the commission about possible delays in implementing specific parts of the AI Law.
The EU spokesperson added that although several options are being considered, the European Union remains “fully in support of the AI Law and its objectives.”
The legislation came into force in August 2024, but many of its provisions will be applied in a phased manner over the coming years.