The European Commission is reportedly considering delaying the implementation of some provisions of its flagship Artificial Intelligence Act, following lobbying from U.S. tech giants and diplomatic pressure from Washington, the Financial Times reported on Friday.
Tech companies including Meta and Alphabet have urged EU policymakers to pause sections of the law that they say could hinder innovation and competitiveness. The Trump administration has also warned Brussels that overly strict AI rules could escalate trade tensions between the two sides.
A senior EU official told the FT that Brussels and Washington have been “engaging” on potential adjustments to the AI Act and other digital rules as part of a simplification plan set to be adopted on November 19.
The AI Act, which took effect in August 2024, establishes risk-based categories for AI systems and includes extensive compliance requirements for high-risk applications such as biometric surveillance and automated decision-making tools. Many of its provisions are scheduled to take effect gradually over the next few years.
EU officials told the FT that discussions are ongoing regarding targeted delays, while maintaining that the bloc remains “fully committed” to the act’s overall objectives of transparency, accountability, and ethical AI use.
The debate underscores the growing tension between AI regulation and innovation, as Europe seeks to preserve its leadership in responsible technology development while navigating international political and economic pressure.
