 "Meta says it is concentrating on its compliance efforts in preparation for the AI Act, rather than signing the voluntary pact at this time. Image Credit: Reuters")
Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has decided not to immediately join the European Union’s AI Pact, which serves as a transitional framework ahead of the EU’s AI Act.
This decision was confirmed by a company spokesperson, who stated that Meta is concentrating on its compliance efforts in preparation for the AI Act, rather than signing the voluntary pact at this time.
The AI Pact was introduced by the EU as a voluntary measure to encourage companies to begin aligning with the forthcoming AI Act, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at regulating artificial intelligence across Europe.
The AI Act, which was agreed upon by EU lawmakers in May, is set to be the first comprehensive regulation governing AI, requiring companies to provide detailed summaries of the data used to train their AI models. The majority of the rules under the AI Act will come into effect on August 2, 2026.
While the European Commission has urged companies to join the AI Pact as a preparatory step, Meta has opted to focus on meeting the legal requirements of the AI Act, potentially joining the pact at a later stage.
The company expressed support for the harmonised rules that the EU is implementing and emphasised its commitment to ensuring full compliance by the 2026 deadline.
The AI Act is a critical part of the EU’s broader legislative framework, which includes other significant regulations like the Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, Data Governance Act, and Data Act.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTogether, these laws aim to create a robust regulatory environment for the digital economy in Europe. Meta’s decision to delay joining the AI Pact reflects a cautious approach as it navigates the complex and evolving regulatory landscape.