Google will sign the EU’s AI code; Meta declines

Google will sign the European Union’s artificial intelligence code of practice, backing Brussels at a time when U.S. officials and tech companies are trying to derail the bloc’s expanding digital rules.

The decision was confirmed on Wednesday by Kent Walker, president of global affairs and chief legal officer at Alphabet, who said the company supports the initiative while still flagging concerns about its long-term effects on Europe’s AI competitiveness.

This move hands the European Commission a key endorsement just weeks before its sweeping AI Act comes into effect. The code, which guides how general AI models comply with the law, was designed to align with the EU’s broader digital regulatory push.

According to the Financial Times, Google’s signature puts pressure on other holdouts, especially Meta, to either fall in line or continue pushing back as public and regulatory scrutiny intensifies.

Google joins signatories but warns of tradeoffs

Kent made it clear Google’s support isn’t unconditional. “We’re signing with the hope that this Code, as applied, will promote European citizens’ and businesses’ access to secure, first-rate AI tools as they become available,” he said. But he also warned that the EU’s approach “risks slowing Europe’s development and deployment of AI.”

He pointed to three main sticking points: any divergence from existing EU copyright law, regulatory steps that might delay product approvals, and transparency requirements that could force companies to give up trade secrets.

“Departures from EU copyright law, steps that slow approvals, or requirements that expose trade secrets could chill European model development and deployment, harming Europe’s competitiveness,” Kent said.

The AI code is designed for companies behind powerful models like Gemini, GPT-4, and Llama. Google now joins OpenAI and French AI startup Mistral as formal signatories. Microsoft hasn’t signed yet, but company president Brad Smith said earlier this month that it was “likely” to do so.

Meta stays out as Brussels faces resistance from tech and industry

Meta has refused to sign. Joel Kaplan, the company’s chief legal officer, said the code brings “a number of legal uncertainties for model developers, as well as measures which go far beyond the scope of the AI Act.”

He argued that the rules would block progress in Europe and limit the ability of companies to build products on top of emerging models. “This over-reach will throttle the development and deployment of frontier AI models in Europe, and stunt European companies looking to build businesses on top of them,” Joel said.

The resistance goes beyond Silicon Valley. Top executives from European giants including Airbus and BNP Paribas sent an open letter to the European Commission urging a two-year pause on AI legislation.

They warned that the existing regulatory approach is overlapping, unclear, and threatening to undercut the continent’s ability to compete globally in AI. The executives also pointed out that the fast rollout of new rules, without coordination or clarity, risks putting Europe at a disadvantage compared to the U.S. and China.

Meanwhile, the United States government has stepped in with its own criticism. After a trade meeting on Sunday between European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and President Donald Trump, the White House released a joint statement saying the two governments “intend to address unjustified digital trade barriers.” That line was aimed squarely at Brussels’ AI and data regulations.

Still, Brussels isn’t flinching. On Tuesday, a Commission spokesperson responded to U.S. pressure, saying, “We are not moving on our right to regulate autonomously in the digital space.” The EU believes the AI Act is necessary to protect consumers and creators while setting global standards for safe AI development. And with the law scheduled to take effect early next month, time is running out for further negotiation.

The AI code of practice isn’t legally binding but is meant to serve as a reference point for how firms should behave ahead of enforcement. Companies that sign are expected to follow its guidelines voluntarily, aligning with the upcoming legal regime.

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