Europe continues crackdown on Big Tech, defying Trump with X fine

BRUSSELS, Dec 5 The European Union is intensifying its scrutiny of major technology companies, issuing fines to Alphabets Google and Elon Musks X while initiating additional inquiries, asserting its authority to enforce EU regulations regardless of pressure from the United States.

Following a record-setting 2.95 billion euro ($3.44 billion) fine against Google three months ago, the European Commission announced a 120 million euro penalty for X for violating EU online content standards.

The U.S. government has criticized these measures, linking potential reductions in U.S. steel tariffs to less stringent EU digital rules and instructing diplomats to lobby against the regulations.

The European Commissions actions are grounded in the Digital Markets Act, aimed at limiting the influence of Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Booking.com, and ByteDance, and the Digital Services Act, which obliges large online platforms to address illegal or harmful content more effectively.

EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera dismissed U.S. criticism, emphasizing Europes right to safeguard its digital markets independently. She stated, It is our duty to ensure respect for our regulations. How the U.S. manages its own standards is irrelevant to our enforcement. My responsibility is the integrity of European digital markets, and this is non-negotiable.

Ribera also rejected the notion that competition law should be used as a lever in trade negotiations or to protect specific economic interests, calling it a fundamental element of fair and sustainable markets.

Analysts note that initial U.S. threats are losing influence. Daniel Mandrescu, a lawyer and associate law professor at Leiden University, remarked that the EUs investigation into Meta signals that political pressure cannot override legal enforcement.

Experts highlight that Europes strengthened approach is both a sign of resolve and a new challenge for Big Tech. Rupprecht Podszun, a professor at Heinrich Heine University Dsseldorf, said, This renewed enforcement energy makes it difficult to retreat. The outcomes of the Google Ad-Tech case and the Meta AI investigation will be key indicators of EU regulatory power.

Last month, Google proposed changes to simplify use of its advertising platform for publishers and advertisers, contrary to EU antitrust calls to divest part of its business. A decision on this proposal is expected early next year. Meanwhile, the EU has opened an investigation into Meta, which could result in a pause of AI features in WhatsApp that might restrict competitors.

($1 = 0.8582 euros)

Author: Maya Henderson