Digital Rights Groups Urge Swift EU AI Act Implementation

Published Date : 9/25/2025 

A coalition of 31 digital rights organizations has called on the European Commission to adhere to the scheduled implementation of the AI Act, citing concerns over delayed national regulator designations and Hungary's controversial facial recognition legislation. 

A group of 31 digital rights organizations has urged the European Commission to ensure that the AI Act is implemented according to schedule. The open letter, released on Tuesday, highlights the missed deadline by many of the 27 EU member states to designate national regulators for the AI Act. The organizations specifically pointed out Hungary, which has introduced a new law allowing the use of facial recognition to monitor Pride events, an application that is prohibited by the AI Act, according to legal experts.

The Commission’s lack of responsiveness has been fueling hesitation among national governments to introduce the AI rulebook, says the group, which includes European Digital Rights (EDRi), Algorithm Watch, AccessNow, and the European Center for Non-Profit Law (ECNL). “Every further delay risks undermining both the protection of people’s rights under the AI Act and the credibility of the EU as a proponent of rights-respecting AI regulation,” the group states in their open letter addressed to Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s executive vice-president for Tech Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy.

The expiring deadline for designating national competent authorities could be another bad sign for the AI Act’s implementation schedule. Both private sector stakeholders and lawmakers have been calling to “stop the clock,” i.e., pause the Act’s implementation to address the uncertainty brought by the complex regulation. Last week, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi joined the chorus of EU lawmakers calling for the postponement.

However, the messaging from the Commission itself has been less than clear. In June, Virkkunen stated that postponing some parts of the AI Act is not excluded. On Monday, however, a Commission official said that “stop the clock” is not being considered. “There is not going to be an overall moratorium on the AI Act. That is not on the table. We are focusing on making the rules work in practice,” Yvo Volman, director for data at the Commission, told the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE).

The Commission is also not considering a complete overhaul of the AI Act through the EU’s Digital Omnibus consultation, aimed at simplifying data, AI, and cybersecurity compliance, says Volman. The simplification package is set to come out in December, according to Euronews reports. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS): 

Q: What is the AI Act?

A: The AI Act is a comprehensive regulation being developed by the European Union to govern the use of artificial intelligence. It aims to ensure that AI systems are developed and used in a way that respects fundamental rights and values.

Q: Why are digital rights groups concerned about the AI Act's implementation?

A: Digital rights groups are concerned because many EU member states have missed the deadline to designate national regulators, and delays could undermine the protection of people’s rights and the EU’s credibility in promoting rights-respecting AI regulation.

Q: What is the issue with Hungary's new law?

A: Hungary has introduced a new law allowing the use of facial recognition to monitor Pride events, which is prohibited by the AI Act. This has raised significant concerns among digital rights organizations.

Q: What is the 'stop the clock' proposal?

A: The 'stop the clock' proposal is a call to pause the implementation of the AI Act to address the uncertainty and complexity of the regulation. Some private sector stakeholders and lawmakers have been advocating for this pause.

Q: What is the EU's stance on pausing the AI Act?

A: The European Commission has stated that there will not be an overall moratorium on the AI Act. They are focusing on making the rules work in practice and are not considering a complete overhaul of the Act. 

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