Meta and Spotify are once again joining forces, this time to address concerns about EU privacy regulations hindering the development and deployment of open-source AI technologies. In a joint statement released on their respective websites, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek voiced frustrations over the restrictive regulatory environment in Europe, which they argue stifles innovation.
Meta claims that current regulations prevent the company from training its AI models on public data from platforms like Facebook and Instagram. The tech giant expressed concern that, in the short term, these delays in utilizing public data could lead to the most advanced AI models lacking European cultural, linguistic, and knowledge-based inputs. This could result in European users being unable to access the latest AI technologies, which are instead tailored to other regions. Meta further confirmed that due to regulatory uncertainties, it would not release its upcoming AI models, such as the Llama multimodal AI, which is designed to understand images, to customers in the European Union.
Spotify, which has invested heavily in AI to enhance its streaming services, echoed similar concerns. The company highlighted the potential of open-source AI to benefit the music and content industry, especially in helping new artists gain visibility. Spotify argues that a clearer and more streamlined regulatory framework would accelerate the development and deployment of open-source AI, providing essential support to European developers and creators who rely on these innovations.
Both companies’ statements suggest a shared interest in leveraging Meta’s AI technology to enhance their products. However, the lack of regulatory clarity in the EU is currently a barrier to such advancements.
Despite their calls for fewer restrictions, Meta and Spotify are not against regulation altogether, especially when it serves their interests. Both companies have previously supported regulations that challenged Apple’s App Store policies, which the EU labeled as a “gatekeeper” practice under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). However, they criticized Apple’s compliance measures as overly restrictive, with Zuckerberg and Ek both labeling the new rules as excessively burdensome for developers.
This collaboration between Meta and Spotify marks another chapter in their ongoing partnership, which has previously included initiatives such as a Spotify miniplayer integrated within Facebook, allowing users to stream music directly from the social media app. Their unified stance on AI regulations suggests they will continue to advocate for a more flexible regulatory environment that fosters innovation in AI and other technologies.
