AIG Newsletter 30 March 2026

NEWS

In this week's edition: The EDPB launches its 2026 Coordinated Enforcement Framework. The Digital Omnibus on AI heads to trilogue, as the EP and EU Council each adopt their negotiating positions. MEPs call for stronger and faster enforcement of the DMA. The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) publishes guidance on its AI Act market surveillance role while the AI Board meets to review the progress of the AI strategy and implementation of the AI Act. The Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, Michael O'Flaherty, cautions against blanket bans on social media for minors, and finally, AIG joins an industry coalition letter to Executive Vice-President Virkkunen and Commissioner McGrath calling for a reset of the DFA.  

EDPB LAUNCHES EU-WIDE GDPR TRANSPARENCY CHECKS

The EDPB has launched its 2026 Coordinated Enforcement Framework, turning its attention to transparency and information obligations under the GDPR. Throughout 2026, 25 DPAs across Europe will assess organisations from various sectors to determine whether they are properly informing individuals about how their personal data is processed. The findings are to be consolidated into a single EDPB report that could prompt further enforcement action at both national and EU level.

EP AND EU COUNCIL ADOPT POSITION ON DIGITAL OMNIBUS ON AI

The Digital Omnibus on AI has completed the institutional steps required for negotiations to begin. On 13 March, the Council adopted its general approach on the proposal to simplify certain provisions of the AI Act, with the aim of making the framework more proportionate, improving legal certainty and easing compliance burdens. On 18 March, the EP IMCO and LIBE Committees adopted the EP's position, which supported a targeted delay of some obligations for high-risk AI systems, introduced a new ban on AI "nudifier" systems generating non-consensual explicit content, and included measures to reduce regulatory overlap whilst maintaining safeguards. On 26 March, the EP confirmed this position in plenary, paving the way for trilogue negotiations to begin.

MEPS CALL FOR STRONGER AND FASTER ENFORCEMENT OF THE DMA

On 24 March, the EP's IMCO Committee adopted a resolution urging the EC to enforce the DMA and conclude ongoing non-compliance cases without delay. The resolution highlighted emerging risks from generative AI, cloud services and AI-driven platforms, calling for closer scrutiny of these technologies and action against practices such as self-preferencing, manipulative consent mechanisms and restrictive platform rules. The resolution is expected to go to a plenary vote in April 2026.

EDPS PUBLISHES GUIDANCE ON ITS AI ACT MARKET SURVEILLANCE ROLE

On 17 March, the European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) published its "Compass" document, outlining its role as Market Surveillance Authority (MSA) under the AI Act for AI systems used by EU institutions, as well as its function as a notified body for certain high-risk AI systems. Building on its AI Preparedness Strategy and the creation of its AI Unit, the Compass document set out the EDPS's expanded mandate, strategic vision, and operational approach for supervising AI systems to ensure safe, compliant, and human-centric AI within EU institutions. 

AI BOARD REVIEWS AI STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS

At its seventh meeting on 20 March, the AI Board reviewed progress on the AI Continent Action Plan and the implementation of the AI Act under the Cypriot Council Presidency. The EC highlighted achievements from the first year of the Action Plan and outlined next steps, including improved alignment of national AI strategies and support for sector-specific deployment. Participants also considered the second draft of the Code of Practice on labelling AI-generated content, which incorporated extensive stakeholder feedback, and received an update on negotiations of the Digital Omnibus on AI following the adoption of the Council’s general approach.

HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF WARNS AGAINST BAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA BAN FOR MINORS

Michael O’Flaherty, the Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, warned that banning children from social media raised human rights concerns, arguing that such restrictions were neither proportionate nor necessary and that alternative measures to tackle harmful online content had not been fully explored. Speaking amid growing momentum across European countries, including France, Denmark, Spain and Greece, to impose age-based bans, he stressed that children had a right to access information and that enforcement of existing rules, such as the DSA, had been inconsistent. He argued that governments should first exhaust less restrictive options and improve platform oversight before resorting to bans.

AIG JOINS INDUSTRY COALITION CALLING FOR DFA RESET

A broad coalition of EU and international business associations, including AIG, wrote jointly to Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen and Commissioner Michael McGrath, calling on the EC to reset the DFA. The signatories argued that, despite being presented as part of a simplification agenda, the DFA's preparatory work pointed towards additional regulatory layers that risked overlapping with existing legislation such as the DSA, DMA, and AI Act, creating legal uncertainty and increased compliance burdens. The coalition urged policymakers to refocus the DFA on strengthening enforcement of existing legislation through better cross-border coordination, whilst ensuring clarity and consistency across the EU's digital rulebook to avoid duplication and contradictions.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

31 March: 14th BEREC Stakeholder Forum.

1 May: Deadline to respond to the AVMSD Consultation.

1 June: AIG Exchange Partners Meeting.