EU Bends to US Pressure: GDPR and AI Act Regulations Relaxed

On Wednesday, November 19, 2025, the European Commission unveiled the Digital Omnibus, a legislative package aimed at simplifying, clarifying, and harmonizing various existing digital regulatory texts. In reality, the initiative, details of which had already surfaced in the media, involves easing the provisions of the GDPR and the AI Act. This move is seen as a retreat in response to pressures from Washington and major tech companies.

Digital Omnibus: Easing the GDPR and the AI Act

The proposal directly affects two cornerstones of European digital regulation: the GDPR, enacted in 2016 to strictly govern the use of personal data, and the AI Act, passed in 2024 to mitigate risks associated with artificial intelligence systems.

Regarding the GDPR, the Commission suggests excluding certain pseudonymized data from the regulation’s scope and permitting, within a broader framework, the use of “legitimate interest” to train AI systems without requiring user consent. It also aims to ease the handling of sensitive data detected retrospectively in training sets, so companies do not have to restart their models from scratch. Moreover, the proposal includes a “cookies” section intended to address banner fatigue: consent with a single click, valid for six months.

For the AI Act, Brussels plans to delay the enforcement of requirements on so-called “high-risk” systems (biometric recognition, automated recruitment, police surveillance) by over a year, while simplifying several administrative procedures, especially for SMEs. Some categories of models might also be exempted from registration in the European database if their use is deemed strictly procedural.

“Europe must innovate before regulating”

With the Digital Omnibus, the European Commission aims to clarify a set of overlapping texts and adjust them according to European jurisprudence. Indeed, various obligations stemming from the GDPR, AI Act, e-privacy directive, and Data Act overlap, creating duplicated procedures and a framework that has become difficult to interpret for both businesses and authorities.

However, the project is not just about administrative simplification. The Commission also seeks to reduce the burden on digital actors by simplifying reporting obligations, avoiding redundant steps, and providing a clearer framework for AI developers.

Ultimately, the Commission intends to keep pace with the United States and China. On Tuesday, during the summit on digital sovereignty in Berlin, French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized his refusal to “cede technological supremacy” to the two superpowers. In this context, he advocated for a “European preference” in technology, particularly in terms of public procurement, and urged Europe to “innovate before regulating”.

The EU gives in to pressure

Ironically, this reform appears to be a partial response to external political and industrial pressures. For months, Washington had been urging Brussels to relax a framework considered too restrictive for American companies, while tech giants were calling for a delay in the AI Act’s obligations and broader access to data. Germany also played a significant role in the negotiations, with many of its proposals included in the final text.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the NOYB association criticized a “massive reduction in protections for Europeans” that it sees as a “gift to major American tech companies”.

Industry lobbying groups have successfully exploited Europe’s fear of global economic pressures to demand massive reductions in Europeans’ digital rights. The abrupt changes proposed today could challenge more than 40 years of Europe’s clear stance against commercial surveillance by private actors, NOYB writes.

In Parliament, the Social Democratic group expressed deep concerns. In a letter to the project sponsors, the group cautioned: “Any broad deregulation effort risks disrupting the unique balance Europe has built between technological progress and the public interest. Simplification is feasible when it eliminates unnecessary duplicates or undue burdens. However, it should not come at the expense of legal security, enforceability, or the protection of fundamental rights.”

This view is shared by the Greens and Liberals of the Renew Europe group (chaired by Renaissance elected official Valérie Hayer), who have expressed concerns about certain amendments being “extremely troubling”. These oppositions could further complicate the legislative process. The proposal now needs to be reviewed by the European Parliament and member states, a legislative journey that could span several months.