Meta refuses to sign EU's AI code of practice

Core Viewpoint - Meta has declined to sign the European Union's code of practice for its AI Act, citing concerns over legal uncertainties and regulatory overreach that could hinder AI development in Europe [1][2][3] Group 1: Meta's Position - Meta's chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, criticized the EU's Code of Practice for general-purpose AI models, stating it introduces legal uncertainties and exceeds the AI Act's intended scope [2] - Kaplan described the EU's legislation as "over-reach," arguing it could stifle the development and deployment of advanced AI models in Europe and negatively impact European companies aiming to build businesses on these technologies [3] Group 2: EU's AI Regulations - The EU's code of practice is a voluntary framework designed to assist companies in complying with upcoming AI regulations, requiring regular updates and documentation about AI tools, banning training on pirated content, and adhering to content owners' requests [2] - The AI Act categorizes certain AI applications as "unacceptable risk," outright banning them, while defining "high-risk" uses that require registration and compliance with risk and quality management obligations [3] Group 3: Industry Response - Major tech companies, including Meta, have been opposing the EU's AI regulations and have urged the European Commission to postpone the implementation timeline, which the Commission has refused to alter [4] - New guidelines for AI model providers were published by the EU, with compliance deadlines set for August 2, 2027, for companies with general-purpose AI models that pose systemic risks [5]