Technology giant Microsoft could face a fine of up to $2 billion, equivalent to 1% of annual revenue, if it does not provide information about the risks from the Bing AI search engine as requested by the European Union. Europe (EU) before May 27.

According to a notice on the European Commission (EC) website, the agency sent a legal request to Microsoft on May 17, asking the company to provide information related to the risks of AI-generated features. born on Bing, including “Copilot in Bing” and “Image Creator by Designer”.

This request stems from concerns that Bing AI could create false information ("illusion"), spread deepfakes and manipulate information automatically, affecting the results of the European Parliament elections next year. next June.

Source: @EU_Commission on X.com.

The EC said that Microsoft may have breached the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires major online services such as Bing to carry out full risk assessments and apply risk mitigation measures. corresponding.

Previously, on March 14, the EC sent an initial information request to Microsoft. However, the company did not provide complete information as requested. Therefore, the EC sent a second legal request, with a deadline of May 27.

If Microsoft fails to comply, the EC could impose a fine of up to 1% of the company's total annual revenue, or more than $2 billion, based on Microsoft's revenue of $211 billion in 2023. In addition, the EC Recurring penalties of up to 5% of Microsoft's average daily revenue may also be imposed.

The EC emphasized that this request for information is an investigative action, not a final conclusion on whether Microsoft has breached the DSA. Based on the information provided by Microsoft, the EC will assess the next steps, including the possibility of launching formal proceedings under Article 66 of the DSA.

Currently, Microsoft has not yet given an official response to the EC's request.

This information shows the EU's efforts to control risks from AI technology, especially generative AI. The EC's targeting of Microsoft's Bing AI, one of the world's largest search engines, shows the EU's determination to protect users from misinformation and information manipulation online.