Google has decided to sign the European Union's Code of Practice for Artificial Intelligence. The announcement came in a blog post on Wednesday from Kent Walker, Google’s President of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer.
This code of practice is a voluntary framework. A total of 13 experts created this to guide industries on complying with the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). This act's main focus is to regulate AI usage over illegal activities and provide security and transparency to the public.
While Google supports the initiative, it also expressed some serious concerns. Let’s check how this started and where this initiative is going to take AI.
What the EU AI Code of Practice Means
The EU AI Code of Practice outlines how companies can meet the requirements of the AI Act. This includes:
- Publishing summaries of the content used to train general-purpose AI models.
- Complying with EU copyright law.
- Following safety and transparency measures.
The goal is to help companies understand their responsibilities under the AI Act while encouraging ethical AI development.
Kent Walker said, “We do so with the hope that this code, as applied, will promote European citizens’ and businesses’ access to secure, first-rate AI tools as they become available.”
Copyright Transparency Is Key
One of the main points in the EU AI Act is copyright compliance. AI companies must show transparency in how their models are trained. This means revealing summaries of the data used, which may include copyrighted materials.
The copyright rules are meant to protect creators and prevent the misuse of protected content in AI systems. For example, if a model is trained on copyrighted books or music without permission, it could raise legal and ethical concerns.
Google has said it supports copyright protection but also warned that strict rules might reveal sensitive information. This could include trade secrets that are crucial for competitive advantage.
Google’s Concerns About AI Regulation
Although Google is signing the code, it believes the AI Act could slow innovation in Europe. Kent Walker wrote, “We remain concerned that the AI Act and Code risk slowing Europe’s development and deployment of AI.”
He pointed out three main risks:
- Departures from EU copyright law could create new uncertainties.
- Slower approvals might delay AI product launches.
- Exposure of trade secrets that could hurt competitiveness.
Google believes Europe needs fast and widespread AI deployment to remain competitive globally. According to Walker, “Prompt and widespread deployment is important.” He added that AI could boost Europe’s economy by €1.4 trillion annually by 2034.
Meta Refuses to Sign the Code
Not all tech giants agree with Google’s decision. Earlier this month, Meta refused to sign the EU AI code. Meta’s Global Affairs Chief, Joel Kaplan, posted on LinkedIn:
“Europe is heading down the wrong path on AI. This code introduces several legal uncertainties for model developers, as well as measures which go far beyond the scope of the AI Act.”
Meta believes the code could “stunt” the industry by over-regulating AI before it reaches its full potential.
The Road Ahead for AI and Copyright in Europe
The consents on copyright and AI regulation in the EU remain a debate among economists and technical giants. Experts voice out that transparency and trust are basic things in intellectual property protection while suing AI. However, this is also true that excess regulations and concerns will slow down AI development. Google choice to sign the EU AI code of practice shows the strong willingness towards AI growth. We at Trademarkia help your business understand copyright laws. Our legal experts provide you clear understanding and support you throughout the legal disputes and trademark registration. Contact us today for more information on copyright laws and how to protect your brand in growing technology.
