European Union considers easing AI and data protection rules.

Arab Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

The European Union intends to initiate procedures that could lead to easing its historical rules regarding artificial intelligence and the protection of personal data, in response to pressure from the European and American technology sectors, according to Agence France-Presse. The amendment aims to facilitate European companies' access to user data to develop artificial intelligence, while keeping privacy protection at the heart of the laws. Brussels also plans to suspend some provisions of the high-risk Artificial Intelligence Act for a year, postponing its implementation until 2027, including models that pose a risk to the safety, health, or fundamental rights of citizens. This step comes after moves by major European companies, such as Airbus, Lufthansa, and Mercedes-Benz, which called for a temporary suspension of the law to avoid "stifling innovation," while the matter raises criticism from human rights activists who believe that the amendments may threaten the privacy of European citizens.