The European Commission has reaffirmed its commitment to investigating US Big Tech companies for potential competition law violations, despite concerns that US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House could disrupt ongoing probes.
The EU has been at the forefront of efforts to regulate major tech firms, including Apple, Alphabet, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter), to ensure they do not exploit their dominant positions to gain unfair advantages over competitors.
Following reports that Brussels was reassessing its investigations into Big Tech firms, EU officials clarified on Tuesday that the probes are continuing as planned. Henna Virkkunen, the commissioner overseeing EU policy, stated that no decision had been made to suspend investigations. “Our commitment to regulating Big Tech remains unwavering,” she told Reuters via email.
A Commission spokesperson reiterated that the EU’s review process assessed the maturity and resource allocation of cases rather than altering their scope due to political changes in the US.
The Financial Times reported that some US tech giants were lobbying Trump to intervene and ease European regulations. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, the owner of X, have both voiced concerns about EU policies. In a recent podcast with Joe Rogan, Zuckerberg described the EU’s competition rules as being akin to tariffs on US tech firms.
The EU’s latest regulations, including the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Digital Services Act (DSA), and the proposed AI Act, have drawn criticism from US tech leaders. Musk recently faced scrutiny for hosting a discussion with Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party, on his platform.
Despite the pushback, EU officials have made it clear that the investigations into potential antitrust violations and content moderation policies will continue. “We will ensure that Big Tech companies comply with European regulations to promote fair competition and protect consumers,” the spokesperson said.
Trump, who begins his second term on Monday as the 47th president of the United States, has been critical of EU regulations. However, EU officials remain steadfast in their enforcement efforts, emphasizing that regulatory measures are necessary to maintain market fairness and protect consumer rights in the digital space.
