Big Tech Influence Raises Concerns in EU General Purpose AI Code Drafting
A recent joint investigation by Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) and LobbyControl reveals that major US-based technology companies exerted significant influence during the drafting of the EU’s Code of Practice on General Purpose AI. This Code is intended to support AI model providers in complying with the forthcoming EU AI Act. The report, based on internal interviews and analysis of lobbying documents, highlights that tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, and OpenAI were afforded privileged access to the drafting process, participating in exclusive workshops with working group chairs.
In contrast, other stakeholders—including civil society organizations, publishers, and small and medium-sized enterprises—experienced limited opportunities for input. Their participation was largely restricted to submitting questions and comments via the online platform SLIDO, using emoji-based upvoting. This imbalance has drawn criticism from rights holders and publishers, who express concern that the resulting rules may undermine existing copyright protections.
The drafting process has also attracted international attention, with the US government formally objecting to the Code, arguing that the EU’s digital regulatory approach stifles innovation. The European Commission has denied any structural favoritism, insisting that all participants had equal opportunities to contribute. Nevertheless, the CEO report contends that the Commission’s focus on simplification and competitiveness has inadvertently enabled aggressive lobbying by large technology firms.
Publication of the final Code of Practice, initially scheduled for early May, is expected to be delayed, with the Commission indicating a likely release between May and June 2025. The finalized guidelines and Code are to be published ahead of August 2025, when the new rules for general-purpose AI tools come into force. The Code may be formalized through an implementing act and will become fully applicable in 2027.
