Meta Declines to Participate in EU’s Voluntary AI Standards

Meta has announced it will not endorse the European Union's voluntary code of conduct for artificial intelligence, cautioning that "Europe is taking a misguided approach to AI regulation." Published on July 10, this code provides non-binding guidance to help companies align with the forthcoming AI Act's rules for general-purpose AI models ahead of their enforcement.
“After a thorough assessment of the European Commission’s Code of Practice for general-purpose AI models, Meta has decided against signing it,” stated Joel Kaplan, Meta's Head of Global Affairs, in a LinkedIn post. “This Code creates significant legal ambiguities for developers and imposes requirements that extend well beyond the AI Act's intended scope.”
Although the code is not legally binding, the EU asserts that signing companies will experience "lower administrative overhead and greater regulatory clarity," offering an advantage over non-signatories who may face increased scrutiny. OpenAI has indicated it plans to sign the agreement.
This development precedes the August 2nd enforcement of AI Act provisions, which will mandate that general-purpose AI providers disclose details on model training and security risks, while also adhering to EU and national copyright laws. Violations can result in fines of up to seven percent of a company's global annual turnover.
Kaplan expressed Meta's concern that the EU's pioneering AI regulations could hinder the advancement and rollout of cutting-edge AI models in Europe, putting compliant European firms at a competitive disadvantage. These worries reflect sentiments in a recent letter from over 45 companies and organizations—including Airbus, Mercedes-Benz, Philips, and ASML—which called for a two-year delay in the AI Act's implementation to resolve compliance uncertainties.
The EU's push for stricter AI governance contrasts with the regulatory environment in the US, where current policies are reducing such barriers. Meta's decision to reject the EU code is somewhat anticipated, as the company has faced substantial EU fines and generally supports a more relaxed regulatory approach to technology.
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Meta has announced it will not endorse the European Union's voluntary code of conduct for artificial intelligence, cautioning that "Europe is taking a misguided approach to AI regulation." Published on July 10, this code provides non-binding guidance to help companies align with the forthcoming AI Act's rules for general-purpose AI models ahead of their enforcement.
“After a thorough assessment of the European Commission’s Code of Practice for general-purpose AI models, Meta has decided against signing it,” stated Joel Kaplan, Meta's Head of Global Affairs, in a LinkedIn post. “This Code creates significant legal ambiguities for developers and imposes requirements that extend well beyond the AI Act's intended scope.”
Although the code is not legally binding, the EU asserts that signing companies will experience "lower administrative overhead and greater regulatory clarity," offering an advantage over non-signatories who may face increased scrutiny. OpenAI has indicated it plans to sign the agreement.
This development precedes the August 2nd enforcement of AI Act provisions, which will mandate that general-purpose AI providers disclose details on model training and security risks, while also adhering to EU and national copyright laws. Violations can result in fines of up to seven percent of a company's global annual turnover.
Kaplan expressed Meta's concern that the EU's pioneering AI regulations could hinder the advancement and rollout of cutting-edge AI models in Europe, putting compliant European firms at a competitive disadvantage. These worries reflect sentiments in a recent letter from over 45 companies and organizations—including Airbus, Mercedes-Benz, Philips, and ASML—which called for a two-year delay in the AI Act's implementation to resolve compliance uncertainties.
The EU's push for stricter AI governance contrasts with the regulatory environment in the US, where current policies are reducing such barriers. Meta's decision to reject the EU code is somewhat anticipated, as the company has faced substantial EU fines and generally supports a more relaxed regulatory approach to technology.
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