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EU Draft Would Loosen GDPR and Ease AI Rules Ahead of Nov. 19 Unveiling

The leaked 'Digital Omnibus' would ease AI compliance by widening data-use grounds, with a formal proposal due November 19.

Overview

  • Draft proposals would let AI companies rely on legitimate interest to use personal data and permit processing of some special‑category data for training and operation.
  • Redefinitions would narrow what counts as personal or special‑category data and merge parts of the ePrivacy cookie regime into the GDPR.
  • Transitional measures include exemptions from registering narrowly used high‑risk systems, a one‑year window before penalties apply until Aug. 2, 2027, and a grace period for AI‑output labelling.
  • Privacy groups including noyb and EDRi condemn the plan as a 'death by a thousand cuts' to GDPR safeguards and warn about broader access to users’ devices.
  • EU capitals and lawmakers are divided, with Estonia, France, Austria and Slovenia opposing changes as Germany seeks major revisions, and the draft must still be negotiated before any implementation.