EU Digital Omnibus Proposal to Weaken GDPR Protections for AI and Cookie Tracking
The European Commission is preparing to introduce the "Digital Omnibus" legislative package, which includes significant amendments to the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and related digital privacy laws. Leaked drafts of the proposal reveal changes that privacy advocates argue would create major loopholes, particularly by relaxing rules on pseudonymized data and shifting cookie regulation from the ePrivacy Directive to the GDPR. Critics, including Max Schrems and privacy groups like Noyb, warn that these reforms would undermine existing privacy protections, making it easier for companies—especially large tech and advertising firms—to exploit personal data for commercial purposes. The proposed amendments would also allow broader processing of cookie-derived data under a "closed list of low-risk purposes" or other legal bases, moving away from the current strict opt-in requirements.
Privacy experts contend that these changes could violate European Court of Justice rulings and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, representing the most significant attack on European privacy since the GDPR's inception. The official unveiling of the Digital Omnibus package is expected on November 19, 2025, and the reforms have sparked strong opposition from privacy advocates who believe the legislative process is being rushed and lacks proper oversight, potentially eroding the rights of EU citizens in favor of industry interests.
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How this story unfolded
2 events from the most recent confirmed update back to the earliest known activity.
Privacy activists criticize proposed GDPR reforms as favoring Big Tech
On 2025-11-11, privacy advocates publicly criticized the reported EU reform plans, arguing the changes would weaken data protection and benefit large technology companies. This marked an early public backlash to the proposed policy shift.
Leaked EU plans propose easing GDPR rules for AI and cookie tracking
Reports published on 2025-11-11 say the European Commission is planning reforms to relax parts of the GDPR affecting AI development and cookie-tracking requirements. The proposal was described as leaked or planned rather than adopted, indicating a policy initiative at the proposal stage.
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European Commission Proposes Deregulatory Changes to GDPR and AI Regulations
The European Commission has introduced a legislative package, known as the Digital Omnibus, aimed at simplifying and consolidating digital regulations across the European Union. This proposal seeks to merge multiple pieces of legislation into a single framework, streamlining rules on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and data management. A key component of the package is the relaxation of certain General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) provisions, including delaying the enforcement of regulations on high-risk AI systems and permitting companies to use personal data for AI training without prior user consent in most cases. The initiative also includes the launch of a European Business Wallet to facilitate digital operations for companies and public sector bodies, and a new Data Union Strategy to unlock high-quality data for AI development. EU officials argue that these changes will reduce administrative burdens and compliance costs for businesses, fostering innovation and competitiveness within the bloc. However, the proposal has drawn criticism from privacy and digital rights advocates, as well as some political parties, who warn that it could significantly weaken data privacy protections that have been a hallmark of the EU's regulatory landscape. The legislative package must still be approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union, and its future remains uncertain amid ongoing debate over the balance between innovation and fundamental rights.
Mar 21, 2026
EU Digital Omnibus Proposals Face Privacy Watchdog Backlash Over GDPR Changes
European privacy watchdogs and digital rights advocates are pushing back against the European Commission’s proposed **“Digital Omnibus”** package, arguing that amendments billed as regulatory “streamlining” could **weaken EU privacy protections** and erode fundamental rights. Reported concerns focus on proposed changes to the **GDPR**, including narrowing the definition of **personal data** so that not all data that could potentially be linked to an identifiable person would qualify, alongside other adjustments intended to reduce compliance friction (e.g., reducing cookie banner requirements in some cases and simplifying multi-law breach notification processes). Separately, UK officials told Parliament that **legacy IT** is impeding implementation of technical controls meant to prevent repeats of the Ministry of Defence’s highly sensitive Afghan data exposure, where roughly **19,000** resettlement applicants’ details were compromised via a **CC instead of BCC** email error. The government’s Information Security Review recommended shifting cross-government information sharing away from email/attachments and toward source-based sharing, but ministers and the chief data officer cited departmental system fragmentation as a barrier to rolling out attachment-blocking and safer data-transfer mechanisms at scale.
Mar 21, 2026
Civil Society and Industry Opposition to EU Digital Omnibus and Encryption Backdoor Proposals
A coalition of 127 civil society organizations and trade unions has voiced strong opposition to the European Union's proposed Digital Omnibus changes, warning that these reforms could significantly weaken existing data protection and privacy laws such as the GDPR. The proposed legislation is criticized for potentially reducing safeguards on personal data, including genetic and biometric information, and for making it easier to use such data in AI training and online tracking. The coalition also expressed concern over the lack of transparency and democratic oversight in the legislative process, urging the European Commission to maintain robust digital rights protections. In parallel, more than 60 digital commerce and trade groups have called on governments worldwide to reject any efforts to weaken or bypass encryption, emphasizing that strong encryption is essential for user privacy, secure data protection, and trust in digital interactions. These groups argue that introducing backdoors or technical mandates for lawful access would undermine security for all users, outweighing any potential benefits for law enforcement. The letter comes amid ongoing debates in Europe and elsewhere about mandating access to encrypted data for criminal and national security investigations.
Mar 21, 2026