**European Proposal to Amend GDPR and Privacy Laws Expected Soon**
New developments suggest that anonymized data may no longer always be protected under current privacy regulations, marking a significant shift in European data protection policies.
According to documents obtained by Politico, the European Union is considering easing some privacy laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), to enhance European competitiveness and foster AI innovation. A major proposal, expected to be unveiled on November 19, 2025, could introduce a comprehensive ‘digital omnibus’ package aimed at simplifying technology laws across the region.
### Potential Changes to Data Privacy and AI Training
If passed, these changes might allow AI developers to process certain sensitive categories of data—such as political views, religion, and health information—for training purposes. Politico reports that pseudonymized data (data from which personally identifiable information has been removed) might no longer always be protected under GDPR. This could enable its broader use in AI training models.
Additionally, websites and apps could be granted wider legal grounds to track users beyond the usual consent requirements.
Despite these shifts, the proposed amendments are said to be “targeted” and technical, potentially leaving the core principles of GDPR intact. However, any modification to these relatively new and stringent privacy laws is likely to face significant political scrutiny.
### Opposition and Support Within Europe
Jan Philipp Albrecht, one of the architects of GDPR, has voiced strong concerns over the proposed changes, warning they could “[undermine] European standards dramatically.” He questioned whether this signals “the end of data protection and privacy as we have enshrined it in the EU treaty and fundamental rights charter.”
Several countries, including the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Austria, and Slovenia, have already expressed opposition to rewriting GDPR. On the other hand, Germany appears to support the proposed changes, while Finland has indicated openness to modifications that would boost European AI competitiveness.
### The Global Context
On a global scale, the EU’s strict data protection measures have been criticized for potentially holding Europe back in the race for AI development, especially compared to the rapid advancements seen in the United States and China.
European privacy regulators have previously delayed or blocked AI initiatives from major players like Meta, Google, and OpenAI to ensure compliance with existing laws. This ongoing tension highlights the delicate balance between innovation and privacy protection within the EU.
### What’s Next?
The European Commission has not yet made any official announcements regarding changes to GDPR or other privacy regulations. However, with expectations mounting for new proposals in the coming days, vigorous discussions are already underway—both in favor of and against potential reforms.
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