Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has decided not to immediately join the European Union’s voluntary AI Pact, which is intended as a stopgap measure before the AI Act comes into full effect in 2026.

A company spokesperson confirmed the decision, stating that Meta is focusing its compliance efforts on preparing for the AI Act and may consider joining the AI Pact at a later stage.

Meta’s current stance contrasts with that of Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google, both of which have confirmed through spokespeople that they will sign the pledge. Other companies that have decided not to sign the AI Pact include France’s open-source AI startup Mistral, which was recently valued at €5.8 billion.

Meta’s latest AI model, Llama, features open-source capabilities and integrations that are publicly accessible, allowing users to continuously adapt the model as new data becomes available.

These features could pose a challenge for the system to comply with requirements to map risks associated with the tools, as Llama’s developers have less control over its advancements.

In July, Meta announced that its next generation of models would be introduced in the EU at a later date “due to the unpredictable nature of the European regulatory environment.”

The AI Act will be the first set of regulations governing the development and use of AI in the European Union.

It will require companies to provide detailed summaries of the data used to train their AI models. The AI Act is the fifth pillar of EU legislation and will work in conjunction with the Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, Data Governance Act, and Data Act.

For types of AI deemed to be “high-risk”, the AI Act will impose a wide range of obligations on companies, including risk assessments, governance, maintaining documentation, public registration, and conformity assessments and declarations to ensure full compliance.

Last month, the European Commission announced that the majority of the Act’s rules will start applying on 2 August 2026.

The AI Pact is not legally binding, so companies that do not sign the agreement will not face any consequences.

The EU aims to set standards to regulate the rapidly developing AI sector, allowing innovation to accelerate without the risk of being overtaken by the US.

The non-binding commitment asks developers to fulfil the main obligations of the AI Act before it becomes law.

Companies that sign the Pact commit to following a list of practices similar to those in the AI Act principles, including defining which AI tools can be employed in ‘high-risk’ situations, such as in education, employment, or policing.

The EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, will reveal the full list of signatories on Wednesday.

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