Meta has announced it will not be signing the European Union's voluntary AI code of practice, expressing concerns that the EU is "heading down the wrong path on AI." The code, released on J…
Meta has announced it will not be signing the European Union's voluntary AI code of practice, expressing concerns that the EU is "heading down the wrong path on AI." The code, released on July 10th, is designed to guide companies in adhering to the AI Act's rules regarding general-purpose AI models before the regulations fully take effect in a few weeks.
Meta's decision, communicated by global affairs chief Joel Kaplan, cites legal uncertainties and measures that exceed the scope of the AI Act as reasons for non-compliance. The EU's code of practice offers benefits like reduced administrative burdens and increased legal certainty for signatories, contrasting with the potential for more regulatory scrutiny for those who don't sign.
OpenAI, in contrast, has already declared its intention to sign the agreement. The AI Act, set to be enforced on August 2nd, mandates transparency regarding training, security risks, and adherence to copyright laws for general-purpose AI providers, with potential fines of up to seven percent of annual sales for violations.
Meta's primary concern revolves around the potential for the EU's AI rulebook to hinder the development and deployment of frontier models in Europe, thereby disadvantaging European companies that comply with the regulations. This sentiment echoes the concerns raised by over 45 companies and organizations last month, including Airbus and Mercedes-Benz, who urged the EU to delay the AI Act's implementation due to compliance uncertainties.
The article highlights a divergence in attitudes towards AI regulation, with the EU tightening its approach while the US, under the Trump administration, is actively removing such barriers. Meta's refusal to sign the EU's code is not entirely unexpected, given the company's history of facing substantial fines under EU regulations and its alignment with the Trump administration's less stringent views on tech regulation.