Okay, here’s a revised and fact-checked version of the provided text, incorporating current details as of today, February 12, 2024.I’ve focused on verifying claims and updating where necessary.
The Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) is increasingly taking on the role of a super authority.In addition to its conventional responsibilities regulating telecommunications, postal services, energy, and rail, the Bonn-based agency is now the German coordinator for the European Digital Services Act (DSA). This means it oversees large online platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, youtube, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter).
However, the agency’s expanded role, especially concerning AI oversight, has been a subject of debate. Federal and state data protection authorities initially asserted their right to sole supervision of Artificial Intelligence systems, receiving support from European counterparts. This would have given the federal states a stronger position in AI governance. There were also proposals for establishing a new, dedicated authority for AI regulation.
“Fundamental design flaws”
Industry representatives continue to call for improvements to the European AI Act.”With the implementation of the AI regulation, the federal government is sending an critically important signal for more practical relevance.However, this does not resolve the fundamental design errors of the European AI regulation,” explains Sarah Bäumchen, managing director of the Association of the Electrical and Digital Industry ZVEI.
“We urgently need a profound reform of the AI Act,” demands Bäumchen. “The double regulation that still exists when using artificial intelligence creates legal uncertainty.It also unnecessarily increases compliance costs. In an industrial context, legal acts such as the Machinery Ordinance or the Medical Devices Ordinance already expressly regulate AI safety. These cases should therefore be excluded from the AI Ordinance.”
(vbr)
date: 2026-