EU data rules delay LLM launches in Europe

Global tech companies are increasingly citing the EU’s regulatory framework as a reason for delaying or withholding new AI services in Europe. The Digital Markets Act, the AI Act and EU data protection rules are among the most commonly cited obstacles, depending on the tool.

The Center for the Governance of AI reviewed 375 large language models (LLMs) released over the past 8 years (June 2018 – May 2026), comparing rollout delays in the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom. Compared with the US, at least 11% of releases from companies including Meta, Google, OpenAI and Anthropic were delayed or not released in the EU, while 7% were delayed or not released in the UK.

Regulatory factors were the primary cause in 56 cases among 68 examples of delays and non-releases. The report identified data protection rules as the main barrier, with image, audio and real-time video tools facing greater friction than text models. GovAI researcher John Lidiard said policymakers should account for delayed model access when designing and implementing AI-related regulations.