Joint Civil Society Letter Urging the EU Institutions to Protect Fundamental Rights in the Code of Practice for General Purpose AI Final Draft (Laura Lazaro Cabrera, Center for Democracy & Technology)

A broad coalition of civil society organisations, including CDT Europe, has raised alarm over the latest draft of the EU’s Code of Practice for General Purpose AI (GPAI). In a joint letter addressed to Executive Vice-President Virkkunen, the group expresses deep concern that crucial protections for fundamental rights have been downgraded to mere voluntary suggestions. These changes risk undermining the AI Act’s intended framework and eroding accountability for upstream model providers. The coalition warns that the third draft radically weakens the Code’s approach to systemic risks by shifting responsibility away from model developers and making critical risk categories optional. This not only contradicts the AI Act’s principles but also stands at odds with international consensus on AI safety. With privacy and democratic freedoms at stake, the letter calls for urgent revisions to ensure the Code aligns with the AI Act’s purpose: upholding fundamental rights and ensuring robust protections across the AI lifecycle.

Joint Civil Society Letter Urging the EU Institutions to Protect Fundamental Rights in the Code of Practice for General Purpose AI Final Draft – Center for Democracy and Technology