Germany Approves EU AI Law After Compromise Agreement

German Digital Minister Volker Wissing from the pro-business party Free Democrats (photo: x @Bitkom)

JAKARTA The German government will approve the European Union's AI Act which is a milestone after the minister in charge of digital issues said it had reached a compromise. The European Union last December reached a temporary agreement for artificial intelligence rules to establish an AI development regulatory framework, but needs to be approved by members and the European Parliament.

"Without the use of artificial intelligence, there will be no competitiveness in the future," said Germany's Digital Minister Volker Wissing, of a pro-business party Free Democrats that strongly supports the protection of civil liberties. "The dispute over Germany's position regarding the AI Act ends today with acceptable compromise," he added.

Wissing said that he had fought for more innovation-friendly rules and managed to get improvements for small and medium enterprises to avoid disproportionate requirements, even without providing further details. "The negotiated commission forms a reliable AI development basis," he said.

Earlier, four sources stated that the FDP, a junior partner in an awkward three-way coalition with the Social Democrats, Olaf Scholz and the Greens, had withdrawn their objections.