European Commission’s digital policy chief Henna Virkkunen said the move is driven by the bloc’s own competitive ambitions and not pressure from US Big Tech companies or the Trump administration. She stressed the importance of minimising reporting obligations for European companies. The EU’s AI Act classifies AI technology based on risk levels, with higher-risk categories facing stricter reporting requirements. The commission recently withdrew a planned AI liability directive and stated that an upcoming AI code of practice, expected in April, will limit reporting requirements to the scope of existing AI regulations. This announcement follows criticism from US officials, including comments made at a recent AI summit in Paris where concerns were raised about international rules targeting Big Tech. However, Virk Kunen insisted the EU�’S deregulatory push is independent of US influence, stemming instead from the bloc’’s own commitment to cutting bureaucracy and red tape. “We are open for business, but we also want to make sure that we are protecting our own values and our way of life. Our digital world can’t be a wild west where there are no rules,” she said.
