Displaying items by tag: Big Tech

Donald Trump is intensifying pressure on the EU and other nations over digital regulations and taxes which he argues unfairly target American technology companies. Threatening new tariffs and restrictions on exports, he has warned that countries with policies he deems discriminatory will face consequences unless they roll back their measures. At the heart of the dispute are the EU’s Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, designed to curb monopolistic practices and require platforms to tackle harmful content, but viewed by Washington as an attack on US firms like Google and Meta. The standoff raises tensions at a delicate stage in transatlantic trade talks, with many issues unresolved despite a preliminary agreement. Analysts caution that Europe is unlikely to reverse rules which represent long-sought goals of digital sovereignty, while Trump’s negotiating tactic is seen as ‘keep on pushing, keep on demanding: nothing is ever fully agreed upon.’

The EU has fined Apple €500 million and Meta €200 million under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), its first enforcement action against Big Tech under the new law. Apple was penalised for limiting access to alternative apps, while Meta’s ‘consent or pay’ model for data usage was deemed to offer users inadequate choice. Both firms have reacted angrily, with Apple accusing the EU of endangering user privacy, and Meta claiming it is being unfairly targeted compared to European and Chinese companies. Though these are relatively small fines for these tech giants, the move signals the EU’s intent to hold even powerful firms accountable. Experts see the ruling as a test of sovereignty in digital regulation, but US firms argue that the EU is unfairly shaping their business models. US-EU tensions are mounting, especially after Donald Trump’s recent tariffs on European goods. The UK and other nations are launching parallel investigations into monopolistic practices.