In front of an audience of heads of state and big tech bosses at the artificial intelligence summit in New Delhi, French President Emmanuel Macron assured Thursday that Europe was a "safe space" for innovation in AI, contrary to what the United States says, which criticizes the European desire to impose regulation.
Published on: 02/19/2026 - 07:36 Modified on: 02/19/2026 - 12:35
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French President Emmanuel Macron affirmed, Thursday February 19, that Europe was a “safe space”, not “blindly focused” on regulation, contrary to what the United States says, and determined to participate in defining the “rules of the game” in artificial intelligence.
“Contrary to what some ill-informed friends say, Europe is not blindly focused on regulation (..) Europe is a safe space [for innovation and investment, Editor's note] and safe spaces win in the long term,” he said at the opening of the summit on artificial intelligence in New Delhi.
“We are determined to continue to define the rules of the game and to do so with our allies, such as India, because we believe in shared fundamental values, science, the rule of law, global balance, effective multilateralism and innovation for the benefit of all,” he added in front of an audience of heads of state and the biggest “tech” bosses.
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The American administration, invoking freedom of expression, regularly denounces the regulation of major American platforms imposed by the European Union, "blatant acts of extraterritorial censorship", according to it.
“Artificial intelligence will help humanity to invest more quickly (...) in health, energy, mobility, agriculture, public services and the common good of all,” continued Emmanuel Macron.
Better protect children from “digital abuse and AI”
The Head of State insisted on the need for France and India to “take together the path to innovation, independence and strategic autonomy” in this area.
And on the need for an AI which serves to “protect the planet and promote prosperity for all” and which is “sustainable” and therefore consumes less energy with its gigantic data centers.
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The French president also insisted on the need to better protect children from “digital abuse and AI”, stressing that this would be a priority of the French presidency of the G7 this year.
“There is no reason for our children to be exposed online to what is legally prohibited in the real world,” he said, calling on platforms, governments and regulators “to work together to make the internet and social media a safe space.”
France is itself in the process of taking measures to prohibit access to social networks for those under 15, he recalled.
With AFP
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