Germany’s new Federal Minister for Digital Transformation, Dr Karsten Wildberger, has warned that the EU AI Act risks undermining innovation by introducing regulation too early—before a strong European AI market has had a chance to form. Speaking to the Financial Times, Wildberger said the Act could deter companies from developing and scaling AI in Europe, calling for a more flexible, enabling approach.
His comments reflect growing unease that Europe’s ambition to lead in AI may be compromised by regulatory overreach. While safety and ethical standards are essential, Wildberger argues that policy must not impose burdens that stifle experimentation and growth.
Similar concerns are surfacing in the UK. Christian de Vartavan, CEO of a London blockchain firm, said that despite strong rhetoric from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), government policy remains too rigid and narrowly defined. He revealed that his award-winning blockchain technology is being trialled in the US—not the UK—due to restrictive funding frameworks at home.
De Vartavan described the current UK funding landscape as a “straitjacket” that fails to support innovators working at the cutting edge. He called for more pragmatic, responsive policies to allow domestic tech talent to scale without being pushed overseas.
The appointment of Liz Kendall as Secretary of State for DSIT in September 2025 was welcomed by the Campaign for Science and Engineering as a positive step. Her elevation to the cabinet signals political commitment, but meaningful reform will be needed to deliver results.
The message from industry is clear: without a regulatory environment that balances risk with opportunity, Europe and the UK risk falling behind. Effective governance must support safe, ethical AI while creating space for bold innovation.
The solution lies in adaptive regulation and flexible funding—tools that encourage experimentation within trusted boundaries. With the right strategy, the UK and Europe can foster homegrown innovation and set global standards for responsible AI development.
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Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references recent events, including Dr. Karsten Wildberger's comments on the EU AI Act and Liz Kendall's appointment as Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology on 5 September 2025. However, the earliest known publication date of this specific content is not available, making it challenging to determine if the narrative is recycled. The report appears to be original, with no evidence of prior publication. The inclusion of updated data suggests a higher freshness score, but the lack of earlier versions with different figures, dates, or quotes indicates originality. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were found. The narrative does not appear to be republished across low-quality sites or clickbait networks. The content is not based on a press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes attributed to Dr. Karsten Wildberger and Liz Kendall do not appear in earlier material, indicating they are potentially original or exclusive content. No identical quotes were found in prior publications, and no variations in quote wording were noted.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable organisation, the Liberal Democrat Voice, which is known for its coverage of political events. However, it is not as widely recognised as major outlets like the Financial Times or BBC. The report mentions Dr. Karsten Wildberger's comments to the Financial Times, but no direct link to the original Financial Times article is provided, making it difficult to verify the exact source. The mention of Liz Kendall's appointment is consistent with official records, but the report's overall reliability is slightly reduced due to the lack of direct links to primary sources.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative presents plausible claims, such as Dr. Karsten Wildberger's concerns about the EU AI Act and Liz Kendall's recent appointment. These events are consistent with known information. The report lacks supporting detail from other reputable outlets, which slightly reduces its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with the region and topic, and the structure does not include excessive or off-topic detail. The tone is formal and appropriate for a political analysis piece.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be original and timely, with no evidence of recycled content or significant discrepancies. The quotes attributed to Dr. Karsten Wildberger and Liz Kendall are likely original. The source is reputable but not as widely recognised as major outlets, and the lack of direct links to primary sources slightly reduces reliability. The claims made are plausible and consistent with known information, though the absence of supporting detail from other reputable outlets lowers the overall confidence in the narrative's accuracy.
