A European Commission proposal to simplify digital rules affecting the digital sector, slated for publication in December, should also cover the recently adopted AI Act and Digital Services Act (DSA), Danish digital affairs minister Caroline Stage Olsen told Euronews in an interview.
“I think it's important to underline that there are no sacred cows here. We should look through all of our digital regulations and we should all, all 27 member states, look into where we can simplify [them],” Stage Olsen said.
Denmark took the helm of the rotating chairmanship of the meetings of the EU ministers this month, and will have to find compromises on legislation including all digital files until December.
EU Technology Commissioner Henna Virkkunen previously announced that the Commission is carrying out a digital fitness check, which will result in an “omnibus” simplification package set to be presented on 10 December.
The EU executive aims to identify reporting obligations in existing digital legislation that can be cut to ease pressure on enterprises, particularly SMEs. The question remains whether that simplification package will also cover the Digital Markets Act (DMA), DSA and the AI Act, since the rules entered into force less than two years ago, and haven't yet fully come into effect.
Stage Olsen said that it’s important to consider where the AI Act may be imposing unnecessary burdens on companies.
The Act aims to regulate artificial intelligence systems according to the risk they pose to society. It entered into force in August 2024, but will only fully apply in 2027.
“If there are certain aspects where there is room for simplification, or for making interpretations easier for companies, or to make fewer reporting demands, it would be stupid not to do so,” she said, adding that it’s better that companies don't spend lots of money on unnecessary implementation.
AI Act
The AI Act and its Code of Practice – voluntary guidelines for providers of AI models such as ChatGPT and Claude AI – were subject to lobbying efforts as companies tried to get the “simplest possible rules”.
Earlier this month, CEOs from more than 40 European companies including ASML, Philips, Siemens and Mistral, asked for a “two-year clock-stop” on the AI Act before key obligations enter into force this August, claiming they have only a short timeframe to comply.
In addition, the US government as well as American big tech companies expressed criticism saying the rules hinder innovation.
Stage Olsen denied that the idea of reviewing the AI Act had anything to do with the US position.
“It is about our ability to stand on our own feet. And then indirectly, of course, it has something to do with the US, because we have to keep up with them. If we want to lead in any technology race, we really need to wake up from our sleep and start doing something. We need to simplify the rules for our own sake, not for others,” she said, adding that everyone that operates in Europe needs to play by the European rules.
On Tuesday the minister told lawmakers in the European Parliament about Danish priorities for this half year and said protecting minors online is on top of the list.
“I will use the presidency to put this on top of the agenda and set a clear, political ambition that can shape EU policy in the years to come,” she said, adding that Denmark seeks to make age verification tools mandatory.
At the same time, the Danish Minister of Culture, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, announced on Wednesday that he aims to get support across Europe to introduce stronger protection against deepfakes after Denmark adopted a bill that will make it illegal to share digital imitations of people's personal characteristics.
