EU Parliament Committee hearing addresses Digital Omnibus concerns
27/01/2026 | IAPP
The European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) held a hearing on 26 January to discuss proposed simplifications of EU digital and artificial intelligence rules. The Digital Omnibus packages, introduced in November 2025, aim to reduce regulatory clutter by updating the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and clarifying the Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act). While the European Commission suggests these changes address practical implementation challenges, MEPs have raised concerns regarding legal certainty and the potential dilution of data protection rights.
A central point of contention involves the outsized influence of US Big Tech companies lobbying for more innovation-friendly rules. Irish MEP Michael McNamara, the recently appointed rapporteur for the Digital Omnibus for AI, questioned whether the proposed amendments mirror demands from powerful industry groups rather than genuine resource constraints cited by member states. He warned that prioritising corporate interests over citizen safeguards could set a dangerous precedent for the European Union’s regulatory sovereignty.
During the hearing, Commission officials faced questions about how the investigation into X concerning its Grok AI chatbot will proceed and whether apps that enable the dissemination of manipulated, non-consensual sexual images and potential child sexual abuse material (CSAM) are allowed under current law.
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