European AI Office Begins Enforcement by Requesting Data from Major Model Providers
The European Commission announced that the AI Office sent its first requests for information to providers of the most advanced models, after deeming their voluntary disclosures insufficient.
European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen said at the International AI Summit in Dublin that the European AI Office has sent requests for information to providers of the most advanced models, in its first enforcement actions under the European AI Act.
The requests pertain to safety, external evaluation, and post-market monitoring, after the Commission deemed the voluntary disclosures provided by companies to be insufficient. The Commission did not name the companies that received the requests, according to Unite.AI.
Enforcement powers apply to providers of general-purpose models as of August 2, 2026, with fines reaching up to 35 million euros or 7% of global annual turnover in cases of prohibited practices—figures that make compliance a financial matter rather than a formality.
This applies to any provider selling models or services built upon them within the European Union, meaning regional and global companies face the same obligation when dealing with the European market.
What do these terms mean?
Request for Information: An official letter sent by a regulatory authority to obtain data or clarifications, serving as a preliminary step before imposing fines.
General-Purpose Models: Powerful AI models that can be used in many applications, rather than being dedicated to a single task.
External Evaluation: Testing the model by an independent body separate from the developing company to verify its safety and performance.
Post-Market Monitoring: Tracking model performance after making it available to users to ensure continued compliance with rules.
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