With the increasing influence of big tech companies and their alliance with political forces, the digital space is witnessing unprecedented transformations that go beyond economic competition to include the reshaping of the global information system. Under the new Trump administration, the relationship between political power and Big Tech has been strengthened, leading to an escalation of the confrontation with Europe, which seeks to impose a stricter regulatory framework to protect its digital sovereignty. However, this confrontation is not without challenges; Brussels faces intense American pressure, along with the influence of domestic political forces supporting unregulated technology. In this context, the digital conflict between the two sides has become a reflection of a larger equation related to information freedom, geopolitical competition, and the future of global digital governance.
Manifestations of Disputes
The regulatory measures of the European Union in the digital field have led to increasing disputes with American technology companies, and some of the most prominent disputes include:
1- The dispute over European digital laws: European regulations, such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), are a central focus of the dispute between American companies and European countries; Brussels aims to regulate digital competition by forcing big companies like Google, Amazon, and Apple to comply with rules that ensure transparency and prevent the abuse of their dominant position. On the other hand, the United States sees these laws as unfairly targeting its companies, accusing the European Union of adopting a protectionist approach aimed at reducing the influence of American companies without imposing the same restrictions on their European counterparts.
Recent months have seen an escalation in this dispute; Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), called for a review of European regulations during the World Mobile Congress held in Barcelona on March 3, 2024, claiming that they impose strict censorship on technology platforms, especially regarding the issue of digital content oversight. The relationship between Big Tech and Brussels has been strained since the preparation of the DSA and DMA laws; these companies (GAFAM: Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft) considered the two laws to be an obstacle to their interests. In 2020, Le Point magazine revealed a secret plan by Google to empty the Digital Services Act of its content, arguing that it harms transatlantic relations.
2- Mutual accusations of “digital censorship” and “freedom of expression”: The issue of online freedom of expression has become a major point of contention between American technology companies and the European Union; American officials accuse Brussels of promoting institutional censorship through laws like the Digital Services Act, which impose strict restrictions on online content. In contrast, Europe defends its stance, asserting that these legislations are necessary to combat hate speech and media misinformation, especially with the increasing negative impact of misleading information in the digital space.
Recent months have seen a direct attack from American business leaders like Elon Musk on the Digital Services Act, considering it a tool for imposing censorship on social media platforms and undermining freedom of expression. On January 7, 2025, Mark Zuckerberg announced the termination of the fact-checking program on his platforms in the United States, a move that raised concerns for the European Union, which fears that this policy may extend to Europe, weakening efforts to combat misinformation. The European Commission continues to emphasize that its laws are not aimed at imposing arbitrary censorship but rather seek to ensure a safe online environment that aligns with democratic values.
3- Tensions over digital taxes: Digital taxes on big tech companies, known as “GAFA taxes,” constitute a fundamental point of contention between the European Union and the United States; some European countries, such as France, are trying to impose taxes on American companies that generate huge profits from European users without paying taxes proportionate to their European revenues. Washington sees these taxes as unfairly imposed on companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Apple, accusing Brussels of selectively targeting American companies without imposing similar taxes on large European companies operating in the same field.
In contrast, European countries defend their stance, asserting that the aim of these taxes is to achieve tax justice and prevent multinational corporations from avoiding paying their tax obligations by exploiting legal loopholes. On February 21, 2025, Trump threatened to impose customs penalties in response to European taxes planned to be imposed under the DMA and DSA laws against X, Facebook, Instagram, Apple, Meta, and Alphabet, ranging from 6% to 10% of their revenues. Trump also tasked the United States Trade Representative, James Greiner, with reopening the investigation into GAFA taxes imposed by countries like France, Austria, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
4- Policies of digital dominance and European dependence on American technology companies: American dominance in the technology sector raises increasing concerns within the European Union; many European countries rely almost entirely on the infrastructure and services provided by large American companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. Some analysts argue that this situation limits European decision-making independence, especially with the increasing importance of technology in economic and security aspects. Some reports suggest that European governments face difficulty in developing local alternatives capable of competing with American offerings, making the continent vulnerable to cybersecurity risks and external interference.
This reality has prompted some European leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, to call for the adoption of a “European preference” policy in technology, emphasizing that Europe needs to reduce its dependence on the United States by supporting local companies and promoting digital innovation. However, this strategy faces obstacles; the United States accuses the European Union of adopting a protectionist approach that contradicts the principles of free market and fair trade. Some observers argue that Europe needs to move quickly to avoid becoming just a “consumer market” for American technology industries without possessing independent production or innovation capabilities.
5- The conflict over the future of artificial intelligence and its regulation: Artificial intelligence represents one of the most prominent areas of conflict between American technology companies and European countries; Brussels seeks to establish a strict legal framework to ensure responsible use of this technology, while American companies call for reducing regulatory restrictions to avoid slowing innovation. In 2024, the European Union adopted the “AI Act” law, which imposes strict standards on companies developing and using artificial intelligence technologies, especially in sensitive areas such as healthcare, justice, and security.
In contrast, other European perspectives argue that these regulations may hinder the development of European artificial intelligence, giving the United States and China an advantage in the technological race. As the debate over compliance with these European standards escalates, American companies like Meta and Apple announced in September 2024 the suspension of launching some artificial intelligence products in the European market until the new European policies are reassessed.
Contextual Catalyst
Several factors have contributed to the escalation of digital disputes between the United States and Europe, especially after Trump’s return to the White House:
1- Trump administration’s stance against European restrictions on technology: Since his return to power, Donald Trump has adopted a policy opposing European digital regulations, considering them a direct threat to American economic dominance. Trump appointed Brendan Carr as the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), one of the fiercest opponents of European regulations on the grounds that they impose unjustified censorship on content and harm conservative views, calling for the dismantling of the “censorship cartel.” Carr supported Elon Musk in his confrontation with Brazil, accusing its government of violating freedom of expression after banning the X platform for refusing to delete far-right accounts.
In contrast, the European Commission considers these regulations necessary to prevent monopolies and protect consumers from the exploitation of big companies’ dominant positions. In this context, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance played a key role in escalating the rhetorical and political confrontation against the European Union’s digital policies, exploiting European forums to promote the Trump administration’s stance; at the recent Munich Security Conference, Vance directly accused the European Union of aiming to restrict freedom of expression, not just regulate digital competition. He also indicated that the United States might ask Europeans to drop some of their investigations against American companies, such as the X platform, if they want continued American support for Ukraine.
Vance also escalated his rhetoric during the Paris Summit on Artificial Intelligence, strongly criticizing the European approach to imposing strict regulations on the AI sector, considering that the European Union is hindering innovation and strangling one of the fastest-growing industries. He emphasized that the United States wants strong partnerships with Europe, but that can only be achieved under regulatory systems that promote innovation rather than hinder it.
2- Trump’s alliance with Big Tech against European regulations: The Trump administration has witnessed an unprecedented rapprochement with American Big Tech companies; companies like Meta, Amazon, and Google have openly supported the American president in exchange for his commitment to protecting their interests against strict European legislation. One of the most prominent examples is Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement in January 2025 to cancel news verification programs on his platforms, considering it a necessary step to counter European censorship. Zuckerberg described European penalties imposed on American technology companies as “hidden customs tariffs,” especially since they have exceeded the 30 billion dollar threshold in fines.
On the other hand, Elon Musk joined this confrontation, accusing the European Commission of stifling freedom of expression under the pretext of regulating digital content. This alliance between Trump and “Big Tech” has made the conflict more intense; American companies have started using their media and political influence to shape public opinion against European policies, putting Brussels in an open confrontation with both the Trump and “Silicon Valley” alliance, which is now symbolized by the “Trusk” alliance (Trump + Musk).
3- Escalation of the trade war between Washington and Brussels: The confrontation between the two sides has not been limited to the regulatory aspect alone; there are fears of it turning into an open digital trade war, especially with the Trump administration’s threat to impose customs tariffs of up to 20% on European products, in response to what has been described as discrimination against American companies. This confrontation has manifested in a reciprocal escalation; Brussels has threatened to take similar measures against some American companies that avoid paying taxes in Europe, such as Amazon and Apple, increasing the intensity of tensions.
At the same time, some European readings consider that Europe faces an internal challenge as dangerous as American threats; while Brussels seeks to establish its global regulatory influence, the biggest threat to its digital influence is not Trump, but rather European hesitation itself and the lack of steadfastness in implementing policies, especially since Europe has a comparative advantage; it remains one of the largest consumer markets globally, making it essential for American technology companies that cannot replace European purchasing power.
According to these readings, in the end, these companies will comply with European regulations, as happened with Musk regarding Brazil. Additionally, European circles believe that there are other parties like Australia, South Korea, Japan, and Brazil, ready to join Brussels in its confrontation against American technological dominance, giving Brussels an opportunity to work on establishing new global standards.
4- The increasing influence of Elon Musk and his impact on Trump’s digital policies: Elon Musk has become a key player in the digital conflict between the United States and Europe; he has exploited his media and political influence to support Trump’s policies in confronting European regulations. This influence was evident when Musk changed the algorithms of the X platform to promote content supporting conservative forces, as well as announcing his support for the European far-right, especially in Germany, which raised the displeasure of the European Commission and prompted it to open an official investigation into the manipulation of digital information. Musk’s influence is further increased by the presence of allies within Europe itself; he has received support from some conservative and far-right leaders in Europe, such as Giorgia Meloni, who described him as a “genius.” The “Nationalists for Europe” group in the European Parliament, led by French politician Jordan Bardella, also demanded that he be awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Expression.
With the increasing presence of far-right parties in the European Parliament after the June 2024 elections, Musk has gained increasing political influence within European institutions. This support makes it more difficult to resolve issues related to Musk in the European Parliament, despite the opposition of left-wing, centrist, and center-right European parties. In this context, French historian David Colon, the author of the book “The Information War,” believes that Musk is seeking to destroy journalistic truth by turning the X platform into a tool for spreading misleading information. Colon also criticizes Musk’s control over algorithms to promote his personal content and reduce the visibility of reliable media on his platform, leading to the creation of a false information economy and the replacement of a media model influenced by influencers and algorithms instead of traditional media; this is likely to enhance Musk’s political influence and make his platform a powerful tool in the digital conflicts between Washington and Brussels.
5- Disputes over the idea of reducing restrictions on artificial intelligence: Artificial intelligence policies are among the most sensitive files in the digital conflict between Europe and the United States; Washington adopts an approach based on minimal government intervention, while Brussels seeks to impose strict regulations to control the use of artificial intelligence. Trump has pushed American technology companies to enhance the development of artificial intelligence technologies, committing to removing bureaucratic obstacles imposed by the European Union on this sector. The White House also plans to invest 500 billion dollars in this field, enhancing American superiority in it.
In contrast, Europe is trying to strengthen its position in the artificial intelligence race by increasing investments in digital infrastructure; the European Union’s High Representative for Digital Oversight, Hanna Veerkon, announced an investment of 1.5 billion euros in seven supercomputers to support the development of European artificial intelligence models to compete with the American model. She also launched a call to attract investments in Europe during the Davos Economic Forum, emphasizing that the European continent is significantly lagging in innovation and development. Additionally, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the collection of 200 billion euros in investments during the AI Work Summit in Paris. However, despite all these efforts, the European Union still faces difficulty in keeping up with the massive American spending in this field.
6- The confrontation over encryption and digital privacy: The confrontation between technology companies and some European governments has recently escalated due to the issue of encryption and digital privacy; American companies, with the support of the Trump administration, are opposing attempts by the European Union and the United Kingdom to impose restrictions on data encryption. The dispute reached new stages after Apple launched legal action on March 4, 2025, to cancel the British government’s requirement to include a “backdoor” in encryption, which Washington considered a direct threat to data security and user freedom.
In this context, Trump described the British decision as an authoritarian move similar to China. On the European side, the same project faces internal opposition; the French Parliament rejected similar proposals on March 5, 2025, arguing that they threaten the security of all users and open the door to catastrophic security vulnerabilities. However, some European security agencies still pressure for imposing restrictions on encryption to protect national security, justifying it by saying that it facilitates monitoring of criminal networks, drug smugglers, and terrorist organizations, especially with these networks increasingly relying on encrypted applications like WhatsApp and Signal. This confrontation reveals a broader conflict between a European model seeking to regulate the digital space and an American approach favoring minimal government intervention in innovation, complicating relations between the two sides on this sensitive issue.
In conclusion, the confrontation between Europe and American technology companies has become more than just a regulatory conflict; it touches on the sovereignty of the European digital space and the democratic principles that Europe believes in. In the face of increasing challenges, Europe finds itself with two choices: either submitting to the influence of big digital companies or rebuilding its digital independence through bolder policies. With continued American pressure, the optimal solution remains to enhance local European innovation and invest in independent technological infrastructure that reduces reliance on external platforms.
In summary, it can be said that Europeans are convinced that restoring digital sovereignty is not impossible, but it requires political will and a long-term investment strategy.
