AI: EU Member States approve digital expropriation of Europeans for AI firms
privacy
| Source: Mastodon | Original article
EU member states approve a policy to expropriate European data for AI companies, sparking privacy concerns across the bloc.
EU member states have signed off on a proposal that would effectively “digital expropriation” of European citizens’ data for the benefit of AI companies. A leaked Irish‑presidency document, now confirmed by the Council, calls for a drastic narrowing of the GDPR definition of “personal data”. The change would allow companies to treat many data points – including online tracking – as “pseudonyms” that fall outside the EU’s core privacy safeguards when used in AI contexts.
The draft, backed by Germany and other major powers, places the commercial interests of AI firms above the fundamental right to privacy. Max Schrems, chair of the privacy group noyb, warned that the text “makes profits of AI companies trump European’s fundamental right to privacy” and described it as “nothing but a digital expropriation of Europeans”.
If adopted, the measure would give AI providers broad leeway to process citizens’ data with minimal oversight, potentially reshaping the balance between innovation and civil liberties that the GDPR has long protected. Critics argue that the shift could erode trust in digital services and set a precedent for other sectors to seek similar exemptions.
The next steps involve formal adoption by the European Parliament and possible national ratifications. Privacy advocates are expected to mount legal challenges, while AI firms are likely to lobby for clearer implementation rules. Observers will watch whether the EU’s own AI strategy can coexist with a weakened data‑protection regime, and how member states reconcile economic ambitions with the bloc’s long‑standing privacy ethos.
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