EU Lawmakers Introduce Cloud and AI Development Act

European Lawmakers Present Cloud and AI Development Act

European lawmakers introduced a draft report on the Cloud and AI Development Act (CADA) on Wednesday. The goal is to enhance the EU's digital independence and lessen reliance on foreign technology providers. This initiative aims to create common EU rules for cloud and AI infrastructure while supporting European tech companies. Spanish MEP Diego Solier stressed the need for technological sovereignty, saying, "This is not only a matter of economic competitiveness, it is also a matter of our capacity to make our own decisions."

Concerns about dependence on foreign digital technology have grown among EU citizens. A recent poll by the Bertelsmann Foundation found that nearly 75% of Europeans worry that critical digital services could be disrupted by outside actors. The same poll showed that a large majority believe it is crucial for Europe to control key digital technologies. Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission vice-president in charge of tech sovereignty, pointed out the need for Europe to build its own capabilities in areas like AI models, semiconductors, and cloud services.

The proposal comes as fears rise about the EU's vulnerability to foreign influence, especially from the US and China. European leaders have raised concerns about the reliability of American tech companies. This worry has grown after recent US government actions that limited access to certain AI models. The draft report calls for more investment in European cloud and AI infrastructure to tackle these issues.

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Based on reporting by: euronews.com, irishtimes.com