US tech giants, with support from the Trump administration, are preparing to test the EU’s resolve. The EU must prepare for inevitable conflict to protect its democratic and technological future
In his farewell speech on January 15, President Joe Biden warned that “oligarchies of extreme wealth, power, and influence (…)” were threatening American democracy. His warning referenced the tech entrepreneurs surrounding Donald Trump: X’s Elon Musk and the increasingly meta Mark Zuckerberg. However, the threat is not limited to the United States, but also applies to the European Union.
Advantage of technology by “protecting freedom of speech”
Trump, Musk and ‘Make America Great Again’ (MAGA) Republicans believe Musk restored free speech and saved American democracy by buying Twitter (which he renamed to X) are. Mr Musk wants to replicate what he has done in the US around the world and is already meddling in European politics, setting the stage for an inevitable conflict between the EU and the US. Mr. Zuckerberg complicates this challenge further. He joined Musk in accusing the European Union of “institutionalized censorship” on par with China and urging Trump to protect U.S. tech companies from European regulations.
The tech oligarchs are supported by President Trump’s Republican Party. During the US election campaign, vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance warned the EU that restricting X would be seen as an attack on freedom of expression that is inconsistent with the democratic values of the Atlantic Alliance. He added that such actions would lead to the US ending its support for NATO.
This situation amounts to blackmail. The EU has a tough choice. Ignoring the Digital Services Act, allowing Musk and Zuckerberg’s platforms to freely spread disinformation, hate speech, and political interference. Failure to do so could result in significant economic consequences and security risks.
quiet reaction
The reaction from European countries to Mr. Musk and Mr. Zuckerberg’s plan to seek President Trump’s cooperation and ignore EU regulations has been muted, suggesting a surprising attitude of capitulation. The European Commission, which is responsible for enforcing the Digital Services Act 2022 that Meta and X are contesting, has remained silent or chosen to let the controversy die down. European leaders have criticized Mr. Trump but appear reluctant to openly confront U.S. tech giants. They fear not only the economic and security implications, but also retaliation from U.S. social media platforms. Mr. Musk has already used X to criticize his Republican opponents.
The concerns come as the dominant political force in the European Parliament, the centre-right European People’s Party group, has partially accepted the Trump-Musk-Zuckerberg narrative that progressives will restrict freedom of expression. It is increasing further. Far-right leaders are going even further. Giorgia Meloni and Viktor Orbán were completely in line with Musk and Zuckerberg, claiming that X and Meta are more champions of freedom of expression than the European Commission.
Understandably, European leaders are reluctant to confront the United States, fearing the costs will outweigh the benefits. Determining how much of this interference actually converts into votes for the far right is no easy task. Some policymakers may assume that the impact on elections will be negligible, and could backfire if anti-far-right voters are mobilized by the perception that democracy is at risk. Some people may think that it will leave.
But placating Trump could come at a steep price. When far-right movements lose elections, they often contest the results. This could culminate in violent protests, as happened in Washington in January 2021, in Brazil in January 2023, and in Germany in February. Even in the absence of such incidents, unchecked interference can polarize politics and poison public debate.
If the US government protects its own companies or encourages them to defy EU law, it violates the sovereignty of the bloc and turns the EU into a digital colony ruled at the behest of the US rather than its own country. There is a risk of being degraded. Inaction sets a dangerous precedent. If the US government protects its own companies or encourages them to defy EU law, it violates the sovereignty of the EU and makes the EU a digital country ruled by US orders rather than its own. There is a danger of being reduced to a colony.
What the EU must do
Separating platform regulation from trade and security policy
Europe needs to separate discussions about digital platform regulation from trade policy and security concerns. The EU has the means to protect itself if the United States imposes tariffs, and it should decisively use them. If the United States ties its support to Ukraine to its digital platform policy, Europe should emphasize the common strategic risks of a weakened Ukraine. A weakened Ukraine strengthens Russia, strengthens China, and threatens global stability.
avoid partisan frameworks
The EU’s digital regulation was approved by a broad cross-party coalition of 539 MPs (only 54 voted against it). This is not a conflict between European progressives and US MAGA Republicans, but a question of whether to uphold the rule of law. The European Commission will enforce these laws across the board, and will protect all companies, including US platforms like X and Meta, as well as Chinese platforms like TikTok, which is currently under scrutiny for its role in the recent Romanian elections. It is necessary to ensure compliance with the following.
Reject the war narrative of technology and ideology
Europe needs to make clear that this is not a conflict between the United States and Europe, but between a particular technological oligarchy and democratic governance. We must continue to focus on strengthening regulation of those who exploit market advantages for economic gain and amass political influence to maintain those profits.
refute the claim of free speech
There are no free speech issues in Europe that require the intervention of Mr. Musk or Mr. Zuckerberg. The question is not about freedom of expression, but whether the unchecked political power of tech billionaires is undermining democracy. Musk’s support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party is, in effect, indirect campaign funding. Other German political parties would also need to pay significant advertising fees to Company X to get the same level of exposure.
European electoral law needs to recognize the influence of algorithmic amplification as a form of political activity and ensure the fairness of electoral competition.
build alliances
European countries are not alone in this fight. Other countries, such as Brazil and the United Kingdom, have also resisted attempts by technology companies to override their national sovereignty. This crisis presents the EU with an opportunity to unite democracies against interventions that undermine social cohesion and amplify hateful speech, and to create a coalition for digital and technological sovereignty.
Protecting digital sovereignty
The EU cannot afford to ignore threats similar to those from Trump, Musk and Zuckerberg. Surrender would not only set a dangerous precedent but also signal the subordination of the EU as a digital vassal state of the United States.
Instead, European countries must stand firm and use the bloc’s legal, economic and diplomatic tools to defend democratic values and technological sovereignty. In doing so, we can ensure a fair digital environment that is resistant to external coercion and conducive to a thriving autonomous EU.
(Source: European Council on Foreign Relations)