Meta declined to sign the EU’s AI code of practice, calling it an “overreach” that will “stunt” companies. Joel Kaplan, Meta’s global affairs chief, slammed the code in a LinkedIn post Friday.
The EU published the final AI code last week. It sets transparency and safety rules for general purpose AI models, tying into the AI Act lawmakers passed in 2023. Companies can choose whether to sign.
Kaplan said the code creates “legal uncertainties” and goes “far beyond the scope” of the AI Act. 
Meta Platforms’ Joel Kaplan stated:
"Europe is heading down the wrong path on AI."
"This code introduces a number of legal uncertainties for model developers, as well as measures which go far beyond the scope of the AI Act."
Other companies have pushed back too. ASML and Airbus recently signed a letter asking the EU to delay the code by two years. OpenAI, meanwhile, committed to signing.
Kaplan pointed to these businesses’ concerns, warning the code will throttle frontier AI development in Europe and harm startups building on it.
Joel Kaplan added:
"We share concerns raised by these businesses that 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."
Kaplan replaced Nick Clegg earlier this year. Before Meta, he was a White House staffer under President George W. Bush.
WATCH: Executive Edge: Meta is reportedly considering a significant change to its AI strategy
