Split in European Parliament Over AI Liability Rules

Members of the European Parliament were split during a plenary session over whether AI companies should be held liable for damages caused by their models, according to The Next Web.

Lawmakers from the Socialists and Greens called for a new European liability law and for reviving the Liability Directive proposed by the European Commission in 2022 before it was withdrawn last year as part of efforts to streamline legislation.

In contrast, the center-right bloc maintained that the current AI Act provides a comprehensive framework, arguing that Europe needs less regulation and greater investment to catch up in the global race in this field.

Commissioner Jozef Síkela, Commissioner for International Partnerships, stated that the Commission withdrew the directive because EU member states and lawmakers failed to reach an agreement, leaving the issue of compensating those harmed by system errors without a clear resolution.

What Do These Terms Mean?

Liability Directive: European legislation defining when a product manufacturer or service provider is required to compensate those harmed by its product.

AI Act: The European Union regulation that classifies AI systems according to risk and imposes obligations on their developers and users.

European Parliament: The elected legislative body of the European Union, which participates in passing laws alongside the Council of the EU and the Commission.

European Commission: The executive arm of the European Union, responsible for proposing legislation and overseeing its implementation.