The European Union vs. American Tech Giants

The European Union will need its full legal arsenal, coupled with political will, to confront major American tech companies upon Donald Trump’s return to power. Meanwhile, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg accuse the bloc of practicing “censorship.”

Mark Zuckerberg’s Surprise

Days before Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unexpectedly announced the end of Facebook and Instagram’s news fact-checking program in the U.S., hinting that the changes might extend to Europe.

Zuckerberg accused Europe of passing “an increasing number of laws that institutionalize censorship,” echoing the rhetoric of X owner Elon Musk, who has long criticized the EU’s efforts to regulate the digital space.

By halting the fact-checking program in the U.S., Zuckerberg aligns himself with other tech leaders seeking harmony with the conservative duo of Musk and President-elect Trump. His announcement came just days before Trump’s inauguration, following pressure from several U.S. tech executives to strengthen ties with the incoming administration.

Meta (Facebook’s parent company) launched its fact-checking initiative after Trump’s surprise 2016 victory, which opponents attributed to a widespread disinformation campaign on Facebook and foreign interference—including from Russia—via the platform. The company has faced criticism from conservatives who claim they were unfairly targeted in its anti-misinformation efforts.

Brussels Bolsters Its Legal Arsenal

Brussels has strengthened its legal framework to target major digital platforms. However, since Trump’s November election win, the bloc has avoided concrete actions against U.S. tech firms, seemingly to avoid provoking the incoming administration.

Meta states it currently has no plans to end fact-checking operations in the EU and will review its commitments before making changes. However, sources indicate that Meta submitted a risk assessment report to the European Commission regarding potential content policy adjustments.

The Choice of Silence

In response to Zuckerberg’s “censorship” accusations, the European Commission firmly rejected the claim, emphasizing that “freedom of expression is at the core” of its landmark Digital Services Act (DSA). Thibaut Bruttan of Reporters Without Borders stated, “Promoting truth is not censorship, and democratic regulation is not undue obstruction.”

Apart from the Commission’s response, the EU has remained silent on Meta’s decision to scrap U.S. fact-checking—a move experts fear could unleash misinformation. While Musk, a Trump ally, has drawn European leaders’ ire with repeated criticisms, the Commission overseeing digital policy has stayed out of the fray.

No statements were issued by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen or tech policy commissioners regarding Musk’s planned dialogue with Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party, which he openly supports ahead of national elections.

Adding Fuel to the Fire

Paula Bieño, von der Leyen’s spokesperson, described the silence as a “political choice to avoid further controversy.” Alexandre de Streel of the Centre on Regulation in Europe noted, “There’s likely a desire—perhaps misguided—not to directly attack Trump or Musk, fearing backlash.”

The Commission stressed that the DSA does not dictate online content but requires platforms to comply with national laws. Regarding Musk, Brussels affirmed his right to free speech but warned it would monitor AfD discussions to assess whether X’s algorithms unfairly favored far-right content.

In December 2023, the EU launched a DSA probe into X over illegal content and disinformation but has yet to issue a formal ruling. De Streel acknowledged that “proving violations is extremely difficult.”

Umberto Gambini of Forward Global, a European policy consultancy, remarked, “If von der Leyen’s Commission takes action against Musk, it would do more than just add fuel to the fire.” He told AFP that enforcing the DSA “remains largely a political matter.”

Stricter with Others

Not everyone is satisfied with the EU’s stance. France urged the Commission to shield member states from political interference, particularly by Musk. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned, “Either the Commission enforces our laws with full rigor to protect public discourse, or it must return regulatory authority to member states.”

The Commission’s recent hesitance extends beyond Meta and X. Last U.S. election day, reports suggested Apple faced fines under the EU’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA), but two months later, no penalty was imposed. Sources indicate the Commission shelved the fine to avoid straining transatlantic relations under Trump—a stark contrast to its approach toward non-U.S. firms.

In December, the Commission also opened a probe into China-owned TikTok over alleged Russian interference in Romania’s annulled presidential election.

Return to Washington

Since Trump’s November victory, tech executives—including Zuckerberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos—have flocked to meet him in Florida. Amazon and Meta each donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, while Cook contributed personally. Musk, the world’s richest man and X’s owner, is now among Trump’s closest advisors.

This marks a dramatic shift from 2021, when Trump’s accounts were suspended on Facebook and Twitter after the Capitol riot, where he was accused of inciting violence to overturn the 2020 election.

After four years of antitrust scrutiny under Biden, Trump-aligned figures’ advocacy for free speech and deregulation has drawn tech firms closer. Ethan Zuckerman, a public policy professor who recently sued Meta over algorithmic bias, told AFP that ending fact-checking serves Zuckerberg’s business interests—as it’s “costly, difficult, and controversial.” But for the right-wing tech sphere, it’s a corrective to past “overreach.”

Investor David Sacks, expected to lead AI policy in Trump’s administration, called it a “major victory and turning point” for free speech advocates, thanking Trump for “restoring political and cultural balance.”

Open Threats

Trump has long criticized Meta and Zuckerberg, accusing the company of bias and vowing retaliation upon his return. When asked if the fact-checking rollback was a response to his threats, Trump replied, “Yes, probably.”

The Zuckerberg-Trump rapprochement was long anticipated. Meta recently added Trump ally Dana White to its board. The fact-checking reversal followed accusations by Trump-appointed FCC head Brendan Carr, who branded Facebook, Google, and Apple as key players in a “censorship cartel.”