After nearly three years of contentious debate, the EU’s AI law is entering a crucial stage, with the potential for significant opposition from three of the bloc’s largest countries. German Federal Digital Minister Volker Wissing has expressed strong reservations about the provisional agreement, stating that higher security standards for larger AI models could create insurmountable barriers for smaller models. In response, Germany, along with France and Italy, is seeking to establish a common position on the foundation models by the end of the week.
However, the level of support for such a dramatic decision varies among the three countries. Italy, lacking a significant industrial player, is less likely to support disrupting the agreement. Meanwhile, Germany’s internal cohesion is also uncertain, as Wissing’s liberals strongly oppose the foundation model rules, which could lead to embarrassment for the social democrats if they disavow the agreement. The German Greens also appear divided on the matter.
France, on the other hand, seems firmly in favor of the agreement, with President Emmanuel Macron commenting on the results of the trilogue. While Macron called for regular regulation reviews, suggesting that the agreement will be accepted, additional support will be needed for the trio to form a blocking minority. Finland, Hungary, and Poland are potential candidates, as they expressed reservations about the agreement in December. However, opposing the agreement would likely require significant political capital and delay the regulation of a rapidly evolving market.
In other news, the European Commission has initiated a formal investigation into X, a digital platform, over alleged breaches of the Digital Services Act. The investigation focuses on content moderation capacity, notice-and-action mechanisms for illegal content, risk mitigation measures, access to researchers, and the presentation of ‘blue tick’ accounts. The Commission’s actions against X will set a precedent for other platforms, signaling the EU’s commitment to enforcing the DSA.
Additionally, the Commission’s voluntary initiative to phase out cookies is facing significant challenges, particularly related to competition and economic viability. Stakeholders have raised concerns about contextual advertising, user choices at the web browser level, and compliance with the law. The final draft of the pledges is scheduled for February, but further clarification and modification are still needed.
Overall, the EU’s AI law continues to face obstacles as key countries express opposition and other digital regulations, such as the Digital Services Act, come under scrutiny. The coming weeks will be critical in determining the fate of AI regulation in the EU.
The source of the article is from the blog radiohotmusic.it