US Vice President J.D. Vance warned European leaders on Tuesday that excessive regulation of artificial intelligence could stifle the industry, while also condemning content moderation as “authoritarian censorship.”
Speaking at an AI summit in Paris, Vance argued that as artificial intelligence evolves, the focus has shifted from safety concerns to geopolitical competition, with nations vying to develop the next major AI powerhouse. He made it clear that the Trump administration remains committed to an “America First” approach, opposing the European Union’s stricter regulatory stance.
“We believe that excessive regulation of the AI sector could kill a transformative industry,” Vance said. “We feel very strongly that AI must remain free from ideological bias and that American AI will not be co-opted into a tool for authoritarian censorship.”
Vance also criticised Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), saying its privacy rules create high legal compliance costs that burden smaller firms.
His remarks come as the technology sector watches closely to see whether the Trump administration will ease antitrust enforcement, which has led to lawsuits and investigations against major US tech companies. While Vance reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to supporting American AI leaders, he insisted,
“Our laws will keep Big Tech, little tech, and all other developers on a level playing field.” He also warned that industry incumbents calling for stricter safety regulations could use them to protect their dominance.
European lawmakers recently passed the AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. However, some governments and tech companies are pushing for a more flexible approach to enforcement.
On the summit’s opening day, French President Emmanuel Macron urged European leaders to reduce bureaucratic barriers to foster AI innovation, contrasting sharply with the Trump administration’s rollback of AI-related regulations.
Vance is leading the US delegation at the summit, where representatives from nearly 100 countries, including China and India, are meeting to discuss whether competing national AI strategies can be aligned.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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