BRUSSELS, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ), Meta

Platforms ( META ) and other tech giants may win a reprieve from

the EU's landmark artificial intelligence rules as regulators

consider easing sections of the legislation as part of a drive

to simplify a slew of regulations adopted in the last two years.

The move by the European Commission came amid intense

lobbying by big tech companies and criticism from the U.S.

administration against the AI Act adopted last year, which

applies risk-based rules to artificial intelligence.

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen will present the so-called

Digital Omnibus on November 19 according to a Commission agenda.

The document could still be changed before then.

"The Commission is proposing targeted simplification

measures aimed at ensuring timely, smooth and proportionate

implementation," the draft Digital Omnibus document seen by

Reuters said.

The changes include exempting companies from registering

their AI systems in an EU database for high-risk systems if

these are only used for narrow or procedural tasks, and the

introduction of a one-year grace period where authorities can

only levy penalties from August 2, 2027.

A requirement for AI system providers to mark their output

as AI-generated content to address concerns such as deepfakes

and misinformation will be subject to a transitional grace

period, the document said.

The EU executive has in recent weeks watered down landmark

environmental rules after blowback from companies and the U.S.

government.