Meta curbs EU AI roll-out due to regulations

Meta’s AI model, Llama, will not be available to EU users of its platforms Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, due to the “unpredictable behaviour” of European regulators.

The multimodal form of Llama is to launch soon, which has the ability to work across text, video, images, and audio instead of just one format.

The model is open source, meaning it can be freely downloaded and adapted by users, however, those in the EU will not be able to access it.

A spokesperson for Meta said: “We will release a multimodal Llama model over the coming months – but not in the EU due to the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment.”

The EU’s AI Act will come into force from Brussels next month, and tech companies operating in the EU will have until August 2026 to comply with rules around copyright, transparency, and AI uses like predictive policing.

Apple similarly announced it is to delay AI features in the EU, blaming the Digital Markets Act.

The big tech firm said upcoming features such as Apple Intelligence generative AI tools, iPhone mirroring, and SharePlay screensharing may not be available in the EU this year.

It claimed that the DMA’s rule that “gatekeepers” – such as Apple, Alphabet, and Meta – must allow third-party companies to interoperate with services in order to block anticompetitive behaviour could ”force” compromises over privacy.

It said: “We are concerned that the interoperability requirements of the DMA could force us to compromise the integrity of our products in ways that risk user privacy and data security.”

An EU spokesperson told The Verge: “Gatekeepers are welcome to offer their services in Europe, provided that they comply with our rules aimed at ensuring fair competition.”