Scaling Laws Graham Dufault on small businesses and navigating EU AI laws
Dec 9, 2025
Graham Dufault, General Counsel at ACT | The App Association, advocates for small tech companies navigating the complex EU AI laws. He discusses a significant survey revealing that many SMEs face delays and client losses attributed to regulatory impacts. Dufault highlights the widespread AI adoption among these businesses and emphasizes their demand for clear rules over excessive precaution. He also calls for a flexible U.S. transparency framework to aid compliance and enhance collaboration between lawmakers and local startups.
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Who The App Association Represents
- Graham Dufault describes the App Association as a trade group representing small tech firms with up to 250 employees or specific revenue thresholds.
- He explains the group's role advocating for small app developers before policymakers in DC and Brussels.
Survey Targeted Real Costs Of Access Delays
- The survey aimed to quantify regulation-driven costs when EU and UK firms couldn't access newer AI tools and models.
- Respondents were small tech decision-makers across the US, EU, and UK to capture real-world effects on SMEs.
DMA Is Gatekeeper-Focused And Flexible
- The Digital Markets Act (DMA) targets very large platforms deemed 'gatekeepers' and imposes public-utility style rules.
- The DMA's implementation flexibility allows the European Commission to tailor obligations per designated gatekeeper.