Why don't GAFA want the AI Act?
- pradelconseil
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
GAFA wants to try to amend the AI Act. A recent article in Le Figaro discussed this.
But why?
1. Freedom of expression and algorithmic moderation
Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram rely heavily on AI to moderate content. However, the AI Act requires increased transparency and limits algorithmic bias, which could conflict with current moderation practices, which are often criticized for their opacity and bias.
Some movements, such as MAGA and GAFA, believe that these rules could reinforce "algorithmic censorship" in favor of a dominant narrative, limiting the visibility of non-conforming or controversial opinionsfrancesoir.fr .
Recommendation algorithms, which amplify or reduce the reach of publications based on their alignment with platform policies, could be forced to be more neutral, which is not always in the interest of social networks or certain political groups.
2. The use of personal data to train AI
Since May 2025, Meta (Facebook, Instagram) has attempted to use public user data to train its generative AI models. The AI Act, by strengthening data protection and transparency, limits this practice and requires platforms to request explicit consent from users, which complicates the massive data collection necessary for AI development.
European users were able to object to this use, which forced Meta to adapt its strategy, but social networks are seeking to relax these rules to facilitate access to data.
3. Economic competitiveness and innovation
Major technology platforms, often American, fear that the AI Act will hamper their competitiveness by imposing stricter regulatory constraints than in the United States or China. They are campaigning for a relaxation of the rules, particularly on algorithmic transparency and risk management, in order to preserve their competitive advantage.
4. The issue of disinformation and AI-generated content
The AI Act requires the labeling of AI-generated content, which can limit the virality of certain content and reduce advertising revenue for platforms. Some players, such as Meta, have already attempted to minimize the visibility of these labels, which goes against the spirit of the European regulation.
Conclusion: a delicate balance between regulation and freedom
The AI Act represents a major step forward in regulating the use of artificial intelligence and protecting citizens. However, its implementation has met with resistance, particularly from social media and certain political movements, which see it as a threat to their economic model or freedom of expression.
It remains to be seen whether Europe will manage to maintain a balance between innovation, the protection of fundamental rights and the fight against abuse, in the face of pressure from digital giants and influence groups.
Sources:
What do you think? Does the AI Act go too far, or is it necessary to protect users and democracy?
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