European consumer group raises concern over Digital Omnibus for AI

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), along with a group of doctors, hospitals, academics, and civil society organisations, have published an open letter to EU leaders about the proposed Digital Omnibus on AI. The letter outlines significant concerns that the proposal, currently in trilogue negotiations between the European Commission, Parliament, and Council of the European Union, could weaken existing protections under the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act).

While the Commission initially framed the initiative as a targeted simplification, the group claims that the current negotiating positions risk transitioning into deregulation. They argue that any efforts to streamline the framework should not occur at the expense of product safety, consumer protection, or fundamental rights. As such, the letter calls on lawmakers to preserve the integrity and scope of the AI Act by maintaining Annex I and avoiding amendments that would introduce legal uncertainty or complexity into AI governance.

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