EU lawmakers clash over reviving AI liability legislation
Socialists and Greens want rules holding AI developers responsible for harm, while the center-right argues existing legislation is sufficient.
European Parliament lawmakers are divided over whether to revive legislation on liability for artificial intelligence. Socialists and Greens urged the European Commission to return to the proposal, while center-right lawmakers opposed additional regulation during a debate on a global AI framework.
The disagreement cuts across parties supporting Ursula von der Leyen. Alex Agius Saliba, the Maltese vice-president of the Socialists and Democrats, called the withdrawal a mistake and pressed the Commission to restore the legislation. His group and the Greens argue that AI companies should bear responsibility for damage caused by their models, as other manufacturers do.
Dutch Green MEP Kim van Sparrentak said liability legislation should extend to AI testing and development. She also accused the Commission of abandoning rules to accommodate US President Donald Trump.
Swedish center-right MEP Arba Kokalari countered that the AI Act already provides a comprehensive regulatory framework, with some provisions still awaiting implementation. She argued that Europe should prioritize competitiveness through reduced bureaucracy, increased private investment and improved access to data and computing infrastructure.
The Commission first put forward the liability directive in 2022, then withdrew it as part of an effort to simplify European law and improve competitiveness. Addressing lawmakers at the debate’s conclusion, Jozef Síkela, the commissioner for international partnerships, said the proposal had been withdrawn because member countries and Parliament could not reach agreement.
