The European Commission has sparked controversy with proposals that critics describe as a massive rollback of digital protections across the European Union. The plans would make significant changes to the bloc's landmark data protection rules and delay key aspects of its artificial intelligence legislation.
Streamlining Digital Regulations
As part of what it calls a digital omnibus, the commission aims to streamline multiple tech regulations including GDPR, the AI Act, the ePrivacy directive and the Data Act. The proposed changes would allow technology companies to use personal data for training AI models without obtaining consent and reduce the frequency of cookie consent banners that internet users encounter.
Valdis Dombrovskis, the EU's economy commissioner, defended the measures at a press conference, stating that Europe has not so far reaped the full benefits of the digital revolution. He emphasised that the continent cannot afford to continue falling behind in a rapidly changing technological landscape.
Business Savings and Regulatory Delays
The commission estimates that these changes would save businesses and consumers approximately €5 billion in administrative costs by 2029. Under the proposals, companies developing high-risk AI systems - those posing risks to health, safety or fundamental rights - would receive up to 18 additional months to comply with regulations.
This regulatory shift follows former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi's warning last autumn that Europe has fallen behind both the United States and China in innovation, particularly in emerging technologies like artificial intelligence. The EU has also faced significant pressure from the Trump administration to moderate its digital legislation.
Strong Criticism from Digital Rights Groups
European Digital Rights (EDRi), a pan-European network of non-governmental organisations, has condemned the proposals as risking the dismantling of the very foundations of human rights and tech policy in the EU. The organisation expressed particular concern about changes to GDPR that would permit what it describes as the unchecked use of people's most intimate data for training AI systems.
Meanwhile, business groups have welcomed the proposals but argue they don't go far enough. The Computer and Communications Industry Association, representing major tech firms including Amazon, Apple, Google and Meta, called for a more ambitious, all-encompassing review of the EU's entire digital rulebook.
The commission's vice president for tech policy, Henna Virkkunen, rejected suggestions that Brussels was responding to US pressure, stating that the focus is on supporting European start-ups and small to medium-sized enterprises. She also defended changes to cookie rules, noting that new one-click consent mechanisms would simplify internet usage for everyone.
