Wednesday's proposal from Brussels regarding simplifications on the data side has been surrounded by both anticipation and concern.
US tech giants have pushed for simpler rules, with the support of President Donald Trump, leading to concerns that the EU is too willing to sacrifice both privacy and independence.
AI rules are paused
What is now being proposed is, among other things, postponing the introduction of some of the new AI rules that have recently been pushed through, to 2027 instead of 2026.
A number of data laws will also be merged and data will be "redefined" to make it easier for companies to comply with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
We want to make the EU faster and easier for our companies, says Commissioner for Digital Henna Virkkunen at a press conference.
Both the commissioners and the officials who worked on the proposals insist that it is neither about reducing the EU's ambitions nor compromising on the protection of personal data.
Fewer clicks about cookies
At the same time, at least some of the proposals are likely to be appreciated by the public. The number of requests to agree or disagree to “cookies” – automatic data about visits to various websites – should be significantly reduced. Approval should be remembered and valid for a significantly longer period.
We can all agree that we have spent far too much time accepting or rejecting cookies when visiting various websites, says Virkkunen in Brussels.
