Meta, the parent company of Facebook, will withhold its next multimodal AI model and future ones from customers in the European Union due to a lack of clarity from regulators. This decision sets up a showdown between Meta and EU regulators and reflects a growing trend among U.S. tech giants to withhold products from European customers. The move is not related to the still-being-finalized AI Act but rather concerns how Meta can train models using data from European customers while complying with GDPR. The United Kingdom, which has a similar law to GDPR, will still have access to Meta’s new model.
Former President Donald Trump’s allies are working on an AI executive order that would launch “Manhattan Projects” to develop military technology and review regulations. The order aims to support Silicon Valley investors and companies and includes creating industry-led agencies to evaluate AI models and secure systems from foreign adversaries. This approach differs from the Biden administration’s strategy outlined in a previous executive order that focuses on safety testing for AI systems.
The AI Act, a set of rules for technology companies operating in the EU, will come into law on August 1st, 2024. The law bans certain uses of AI tools and sets compliance deadlines for companies. The first deadline is February 2nd, 2025, for the prohibition of certain AI applications. By August 2026, the rules will apply generally to companies operating in the EU, with specific compliance timelines for different types of AI systems. Failure to comply will result in fines.
NATO has announced plans to establish a new cyber defense center at its headquarters in Belgium to protect allied cyberspace operations. The NATO Integrated Cyber Defence Centre (NICC) will provide alerts about threats and vulnerabilities in cyberspace to NATO military commanders. This move comes in response to the increase in politically motivated cyberattacks since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The NICC will bring together civilian and military personnel, as well as experts from the cybersecurity industry, to enhance collective resilience and defense.
Why do we care?
Years ago, I noted that NATO had declared cyber warfare being equal to physical warfare as a significant milestone in cybersecurity. Now we see resources specifically deployed around cyberwarfare.
I’ve made two recent quips. First, I often cite how the EU is driving regulation. We are now seeing GDPR play out with product development. Second, I noted that the GOP will need to present its vision of AI regulation. So far, they have not. As the Trump campaign notes, no aspect of future presidential staffing or policy announcements should be deemed official” unless they come directly from Trump or an authorized member of his campaign team. I’d really like to know what that policy proposal is.