European Commission spokesperson sends message to Google, Facebook and other tech giants on AI rules: ‘Let me be as clear as possible…'
The
European Union
(EU) has dismissed the calls by tech giants like Google, Facebook-parent Meta and others to delay the region's landmark artificial intelligence (AI) act, saying that the European Commission will proceed with the implementation as previously scheduled. This means that the authority firmly rejects recent pleas from major tech companies and some nations to postpone the implementation of the AI Act, news agency Reuters reported.
'No Pause,' says European Commission spokesperson
Companies including Google's parent Alphabet, Meta, and European firms like Mistral and ASML have recently urged the Commission to delay the AI Act by several years, citing concerns over compliance. However, Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier was unequivocal during a press conference.
'I've seen, indeed, a lot of reporting, a lot of letters and a lot of things being said on the AI Act. Let me be as clear as possible, there is no stop the clock. There is no grace period. There is no pause,' Regnier stated.
He emphasised that the legal deadlines are fixed within the legislation.
'The provisions kicked in February, general purpose AI model obligations will begin in August, and next year, we have the obligations for high risk models that will kick in in August 2026,' he clarified.
EU hints at simplification ahead, but says rules remain
While some companies have expressed worries about the costs and stringent requirements of the AI rules, which aim to set crucial guardrails for a technology currently dominated by the US and China, the Commission remains steadfast.
The Commission does plan to propose steps to simplify its broader digital rules later this year, potentially reducing reporting obligations for smaller companies, but this will not affect the AI Act's timeline.
The AI Act is designed to regulate a technology that is becoming central to numerous economic sectors, ensuring its responsible development and deployment across the EU.
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