European Union countries and European Parliament lawmakers have agreed on a softened version of the bloc’s landmark artificial intelligence rules, including delayed implementation, in a move critics say reflects growing concessions to major technology firms.
The provisional agreement was reached on Thursday after nine hours of negotiations and still requires formal approval by EU governments and the European Parliament in the coming months.
Marilena Raouna, Cyprus’s deputy minister for European affairs, said the agreement would ease pressure on businesses. In a statement, she said the revised AI Act would “significantly support our companies by reducing recurring administrative costs”. Cyprus currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU Council.
The revisions form part of a broader European Commission push to simplify new digital regulations, following complaints from companies about overlapping rules and administrative burdens that they say limit their ability to compete with rivals in the U.S. and Asia.
The AI Act entered into force in August 2024, with enforcement originally planned in stages. Under the new agreement, rules covering high-risk AI systems - including those used in biometrics, critical infrastructure and law enforcement - will now apply from 2 December 2027, instead of the earlier 2 August deadline.
Negotiators also agreed to remove machinery from the scope of the AI Act, arguing that existing sector-specific rules already apply. The decision reflects sustained lobbying from industry groups.
Lawmakers also agreed to ban artificial intelligence systems that create unauthorised sexually explicit images. The move follows concerns over content produced by the X-AI chatbot Grok, owned by Elon Musk, including sexually explicit deepfake imagery.
The ban will take effect from 2 December.
Dutch lawmaker Kim van Sparrentak welcomed the decision, saying it marked an important step in protecting users. “By the end of this year, everyone - especially women and girls - will be safe from horrific nudifier apps being widely available on the EU market,” she said.
Mandatory watermarking of content generated by artificial intelligence systems will also come into force from 2 December.
Despite the delays and exemptions, EU officials say the rules remain the most comprehensive artificial intelligence regulatory framework in the world. The legislation was originally introduced amid concerns about the impact of AI on children, workers, businesses and cybersecurity.
Uzbekistan’s first-ever FIFA World Cup match ended in a 3-1 defeat to Colombia on June 18, but the game still delivered a historic moment as Abbosbe...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has welcomed the recent agreement between the U.S. and Iran, saying it could help stabilise the Middle East and ease ...
The Caspian Sea has retreated by up to 35 kilometres along Kazakhstan's coastline since 2006, raising fresh concerns about the future of the world's l...
A U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at ending war between the two countries has been signed electronically by President Donald Trump and Ira...
More than 100 Chinese companies approved for inclusion on the United States' most powerful trade restriction list have not yet been formally added, as...
China has condemned new UK sanctions against two Chinese companies accused of supplying materials used by Russia's military, calling the measures illegal and warning of possible retaliation if they are not lifted.
The European Commission has warned of growing risks social media poses to children and teenagers on Tuesday 16 June, as Brussels moves closer to tightening protections for minors online.
In the runup to the G7 summit, hosted by France in Évian-les-Bains on Monday, 15 June, China has addressed global economic balances in a videoconference hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. It is a rarity for Beijing to engage directly with the group.
Romania's centrist President Nicușor Dan on Sunday designated Adrian Veștea, a member of the liberal party, as prime minister, after independent candidate Eugen Tomac withdrew.
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. President criticised Israel for its tactics against Hezbollah, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to tackle militants.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to be made public and both countries said a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
A U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at ending war between the two countries has been signed electronically by President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Meanwhile, Israel has continued to carry out lethal strikes on southern Lebanon.
A cyber extortion group has claimed it stole more than a terabyte of data from Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk after the company allegedly refused to pay a $25 million ransom.
Pakistan's heavy reliance on imported energy was laid bare by the U.S.-Iran conflict, which disrupted regional supplies, drove up costs and exposed vulnerabilities in the country's energy security. However, a proposed peace agreement now offers hope for economic relief.
American technology company Snap has launched its first augmented-reality (AR) glasses for consumers, marking a major push into wearable computing as tech firms race to redefine personal devices in the AI era.
The Canadian government has introduced a digital safety bill that would ban children under the age of 16 from using social media, unless platforms meet specific safety standards.
NASA has named three American astronauts and one Italian astronaut to fly on its Artemis III mission, a major orbital test planned for late next year that will evaluate lunar landing vehicles developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin.
China will send an astronaut to its space station on Sunday for a one-year mission, the longest duration for the country so far. The mission will help study long-duration human physiology in space as China works toward a crewed Moon landing by 2030.
Anxiety over artificial intelligence is hardening among young workers as executives promote faster adoption and companies point to automation in fresh job cuts.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment