21 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0100

In August 2025 the first part of the European Artificial Intelligence Act enters into force. For our 36th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast Bonnie and Alex break down the current discussion about it and shed light on the arguments. Join the FSFE community and support the podcast: https://my.fsfe.org/support?referrer=podcast

SFP#36: Policy and EU: Call on the Commission to implement the AI Act

In August 2025 the first part of the European Artificial Intelligence Act enters into force. For our 36th episode of the Software Freedom Podcast Bonnie and Alex break down the current discussion about it and shed light on the arguments.

For this episode Alexander Sander and Bonnie Mehring talk you through the European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), one of the prominent acts from the EU. The AI Act will partly enter into force at the beginning of August 2025 - however companies started an “stop the clock” attempt to put the EU Commission under pressure and to delay the implementation of the AI Act. This attempt prompted civil society including consumer rights protection organisations to speak up and back the EU Commission in enforcing the AI Act for general purpose AI with an Open letter.

Shortly after the recording of this episode the EU Commission released a statement confirming its devotion to protecting consumer rights. Still, the discussion is not over.

Listen to our 36th episode and learn more about the FSFE's policy work, how we as a charity advocate for software freedom. You can support our work by donating.

Show notes

Support our work for Free Software

European Artificial Intelligence Act

European CEOs plead for pause in AI Act by Politico

Open letter by civil society: European Commission must champion the AI Act amidst simplification pressure

The FSFE promotes freedom of software, hardware, and data

CRA & PLD: Liability rules with large exemptions for Free Software are introduced

SFP#24: The status of Free Software with Karen Sandler and Alexander Sander

Podcast recommendation: Linux InLaws

Linux InLaws: FLOSS in education

Linux InLaws: Ada and Zangemann a childrens book about FLOSS

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