German Coalition Divided on AI Regulation and Digital Sovereignty

Leaked documents from German coalition negotiations reveal significant disagreements between the CDU/CSU and SPD on AI regulation and digital sovereignty. Both parties support innovation-friendly AI regulation and digital sovereignty but diverge on implementation specifics. The CDU/CSU propose revising the AI Act to reduce economic burdens and emphasize harmonizing future data legislation. Meanwhile, the SPD remains committed to an AI Liability Directive at the EU level.

The CDU/CSU also advocate for amending existing regulations to accelerate the construction of data centers, while the SPD supports this goal but pushes for a 50% open-source share in government systems by 2029. The coalition discussions underscore the tension between setting ambitious targets and maintaining flexibility in digital transformation efforts.

Both parties agree on the need for sovereign open-source government systems, but CDU/CSU prefer non-binding targets, whereas SPD seeks concrete commitments. Additionally, the SPD proposes using the EU Competitiveness Fund to invest in a digitally sovereign society and economy, reflecting its stronger focus on public digital infrastructure.

These debates come as the European Commission reviews the AI Act and AI Liability Directive, balancing innovation with regulation. The outcome of Germany’s coalition negotiations may influence the EU’s broader digital policy direction, highlighting the challenges of aligning economic and technological goals.

Source: German coalition disagrees on AI regulation, digital sovereignty