EU Signals Backup Plan as AI Act Standards Face Delays
The European Commission ("Commission") has announced its readiness to provide interim solutions if the technical standards supporting the EU's AI Act are not finalized on time. The AI Act, aimed at regulating high-risk applications, came into force last August and is being implemented gradually.
The law will be fully in effect by 2027. The Commission stated that it aims to ensure that providers and conformity assessment bodies are well-prepared before the legal requirements for certain high-risk systems, which are set to come into force in August 2026.
Initially scheduled for completion by August 2025, these standards are now expected to be ready in 2026, according to CEN-CENELEC, the main organizations responsible for their development. The Commission emphasized that while these standards are not mandatory, they play a crucial role in facilitating compliance for providers of high-risk AI systems.
In the event of delays, the Commission may offer alternative guidance to assist providers in meeting regulatory requirements.
Tension Builds Over Withdrawal of AI Liability Rules in the EU
A growing divide has emerged between the European Commission and civil society over the withdrawal of the proposed AI Liability Directive (AILD). The directive, originally introduced to establish a harmonized compensation framework for damages caused by AI systems, was pulled from the Commission's 2025 work program in February due to a perceived lack of consensus among EU member states.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission's digital technologies chief, defended the decision by expressing doubts over whether the AILD could truly ensure legal consistency across the bloc. However, her remarks have sparked backlash from consumer rights and civil society groups, including BEUC, Mozilla, and Article 19. In a joint letter addressed to EU Commissioners, they urged the Commission to reconsider, arguing that the absence of clear rules leaves individuals vulnerable and risks eroding trust in AI technologies.
While some members of the European Parliament support reviving the AILD, the Commission currently appears focused on implementing existing digital regulations before pursuing new legislative initiatives.
Can Crime Be Predicted? UK Tests AI to Assess Future Risk
The UK Ministry of Justice is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to assess whether individuals with criminal records may be at risk of committing serious violent offenses, including murder. The research initiative—formerly known as the "Homicide Prediction Project" and now renamed "Sharing Data to Improve Risk Assessment" relies on algorithms that process personal data from police and probation systems. Authorities aim to identify behavioural patterns linked to future violence, but the project has raised serious ethical concerns. Critics highlight risks of systemic bias, especially given the use of sensitive information such as mental health and domestic violence records. Government officials emphasize that the project is still in a research phase and no deployment decisions have been made.
Meta Faces New Privacy Warning from the Netherlands Over AI Plans
The Netherlands' Data Protection Authority (AP) has issued a strong warning against Meta's plan to use publicly shared Facebook and Instagram content to train its AI tool, Meta AI. The authority voiced deep concern over users potentially losing control of their personal data and questioned whether Meta's opt-out model complies with GDPR standards.
Unless users object by 27 May, their public posts may be used to train Meta's large language models without further notice. Similar concerns have also been raised by data regulators in Germany, Belgium, and previously by Ireland, which prompted Meta to delay its EU launch last year.
In response, Meta argued that the AI tool should be regulated but criticized what it sees as discriminatory enforcement against U.S. tech firms. Company executives warned that such targeted regulation could harm business models and innovation in Europe.
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