Roberto Viola claims Digital Omnibus vital to support EU-based start-ups

Roberto Viola, the European Commission's director-general for communications networks, content and technology, has defended the Digital Omnibus packages against claims that they serve the interests of US technology companies. In an interview with EURACTIV, Viola argued that the proposed simplification of EU regulations, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), is specifically designed to support European start-ups and scale-ups. He noted that the current complexity of these laws forces new AI companies to hire lawyers to begin operations, a hurdle the Commission plans to remove.

The Digital Omnibus package for AI includes a proposal to delay the enforcement of rules for high-risk AI applications. Viola described the original deadlines as unfair to European companies, suggesting that the proposed extension provides the Commission with time to issue the necessary guidance. He further dismissed "plot theories" about revisions to data protection rules that could allow developers to process data without explicit consent under certain conditions.

Viola maintained that hundreds of European start-ups currently struggle to apply GDPR within an AI context. He stated that the proposed changes merely align legislation with existing Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) case law and guidance from the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) regarding anonymised data and legitimate interests. According to Viola, these measures ensure that the AI Act can be effectively enforced while fostering a more accessible regulatory environment for domestic innovators.

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