EU prepares Digital Omnibus to streamline legislation

The European Commission is preparing to unveil its long-awaited legislative package designed to simplify the bloc’s digital rulebook, ease regulatory burdens on businesses and help European start-ups compete in the global race to develop artificial intelligence.

Branded the Digital Omnibus, the initiative seeks to streamline and harmonise multiple overlapping laws – from GDPR and the AI Act to the e-Privacy Directive and the Data Act – as part of a broader push to sharpen Europe’s competitiveness, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

The move comes after sustained pressure from industry groups, who argue that Europe’s current regulatory environment is stifling AI innovation and putting the region at a disadvantage compared with the United States and China. Among the anticipated measures is a significant reduction in the frequency of cookie-consent prompts, a longstanding irritant for users and businesses alike. Cybersecurity rules would also be simplified through a single reporting entry point for attacks and data breaches.

But digital rights advocates and some MEPs have reacted with alarm. European Digital Rights (EDRi) has described the Omnibus as potentially the “biggest rollback of digital human rights in EU history”, warning that the package risks diluting hard-won protections. Proposed delays to the enforcement of stricter rules for high-risk AI systems – those used, for example, in hiring or credit decisions – until December 2027 have raised particular concern. France and Germany are understood to have pushed for the postponement.

Privacy groups are also troubled by provisions that could allow major technology companies such as Google, Meta and OpenAI to use Europeans’ personal data to train AI systems under a broadened interpretation of “legitimate interest”. Exemptions from certain bans on processing sensitive categories of personal data are likewise drawing criticism, with campaigners arguing that such steps prioritise industrial policy over fundamental rights.

The Omnibus also dovetails with other simplification efforts. Earlier this month, the Council backed the Omnibus IV package, which aims to digitalise physical product requirements and strip out paper-based obligations across 20 pieces of single-market legislation. The measures extend support to small mid-cap companies in an effort to nurture industrial growth through digitalisation.

These efforts land against a backdrop of broader regulatory tensions. Big tech firms – including Alphabet, Meta and semiconductor giant ASML – have urged Brussels to delay implementation of the AI Act, citing high compliance costs and operational complexity. The Commission has refused, keeping in place August 2025 obligations for general-purpose AI models and August 2026 deadlines for high-risk systems. Officials argue that the forthcoming simplification package is designed precisely to help smaller firms navigate the burden.

At the same time, the EU continues to flex its enforcement muscles. Earlier this year, the Commission pressed Meta’s Facebook, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Snapchat and TikTok to step up efforts to tackle online hate speech under a strengthened code of conduct linked to the Digital Services Act. And Apple has publicly complained that the Digital Markets Act restricts innovation by forcing compatibility requirements that delay product rollouts – a claim the Commission rejects.

Amid the regulatory cross-winds, there are calls from within the bloc for a more coherent approach. Denmark’s digital affairs minister, Caroline Stage Olsen, has urged a comprehensive review of rules including the AI Act and DSA to strip out unnecessary complexity while preserving core protections. The challenge, she said, is avoiding undue burdens on businesses without weakening safeguards. The Commission’s Digital Omnibus package will provide the clearest indication yet of how Brussels intends to strike that balance.

Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative is current, published on 19 November 2025, and presents new developments regarding the European Commission’s Digital Omnibus proposal. No evidence of recycled content or prior publication was found. The report is based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified.

Quotes check

Score:
10

Notes:
The report includes direct quotes from EU antitrust chief Henna Virkkunen and other officials. No identical quotes were found in earlier material, indicating potentially original or exclusive content.

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative originates from Reuters, a reputable news organisation, enhancing its credibility.

Plausability check

Score:
10

Notes:
The claims regarding the European Commission’s plans to ease AI and privacy regulations align with recent developments and are covered by other reputable outlets. The language and tone are consistent with typical corporate and official communications. No excessive or off-topic details were noted.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is current, based on a press release, and presents new developments regarding the European Commission’s Digital Omnibus proposal. It includes original quotes and originates from a reputable news organisation. The claims are plausible and consistent with recent developments, with no significant credibility risks identified.