Hazardous Territory: Why Europe Must Establish Digital Independence

The last few decades have seen the United States and Big Tech steadily undermine international competition frameworks. Hopefully, the EU’s recent efforts to counter the impact of this malign influence on the rest of the planet mark a turning point whereby it establishes its own regulatory and cultural environment, breaking with the regime being created by Donald Trump and his America First policies. Let’s not delude ourselves; when a US president says “America First”, what they’re really saying is “I couldn’t care less about the rest of the world”.

It’s now clearer than ever that America First is simply a cover for protectionism, abuse of power and violations of the basic rules of free competition. Under the umbrella of American exceptionalism, US businesses — particularly technology companies — have been allowed to grow unconstrained, while Washington has not hesitated to pull diplomatic strings whenever its interests (or those of its multinationals) have been threatened.

The absence of self-criticism on the other side of the Atlantic about its protectionism speaks volumes. Microsoft, Meta, Google, Amazon and Apple have all faced accusations of anti-competitive practices, not by hostile governments, but EU regulators trying to create a level playing field.

After many failed attempts, the EU has finally begun to take action through the Digital Markets Act (DMA), focused on the gatekeepers, the gigantic platforms that are considered essential for the proper functioning of the market. Google and Apple fit this profile perfectly according to the European Commission, which says they have benefitted too long from advantageous access to data, terms of use and app distribution, to the detriment of developers and users.

The aim of the new regulations is to force these companies to provide fair and transparent access to their platforms, thus reducing barriers to entry and promoting greater competition. This will create a more complex landscape, one where the European Union hopefully becomes a global regulatory power capable of imposing its own rules on the US giants. This, of course, does not sit well with the ideology of a country that, in line with Donald Trump’s bluster, continues to promote its own interests over everybody else’s.

Paradoxically, many continue to be fascinated by the narrative that associates America First with innovation, freedom and prosperity. The problem with this narrative is that it conceals abusive practices and exports an aspirational model that does not necessarily benefit those who import it. it’s becoming clear that not only is US soft power being weakened as a result of Trump’s isolationist policies and his arrogance, America, the brand is suffering.

With Trump’s triumphant return to power, protectionism has become such an ingrained part of US political culture that a mere rhetorical turn is not enough to combat it, as some recent headlines seem to demonstrate. When technological hegemony (and with it, economic power) is at stake, the White House intends to close ranks to defend “its” corporations, while driving the economy into the ground through dumb policies.

The future of the EU depends on freeing itself from the American yoke once and for all. At this stage, it’s naïve to continue thinking that Europe can function as a subordinate partner of a United States that openly despises it and will not defend it against any possible adversary, instead arming them to the teeth. While Europe tries to build a competitive digital market with its own rules and transparent values, we must understand that the future lies in strengthening its digital sovereignty and emancipating itself from a country that, with its stupid America First policy, has shown its contempt for its supposed allies.

Europe has to counter US soft power, wielded through social networks, film and television, and technology generally, whereby we swallow the narrative that Silicon Valley somehow has the right to impose the rules the rest of us must follow. Pursuing regulation, fair competition and digital sovereignty is not anti-American; it is simply recognition that until we overcome our awe of the United States, there will never be a truly open and fair market. Here in Europe, we have to understand that accepting America First means we come second.

In conclusion, Brussels needs to send a clear message to Washington: either limits are placed on the abusive power of Big Tech or we will end up with a market increasingly dependent on US interests, which doesn’t work for us. It’s time for Europe to create a future where innovation and competition are not held back by the exceptionalism of a country that ruthlessly pursues its own interest under the rubric America First, and the Digital Markets Act is an important first step in that process. After decades of letting the United States break all the rules, and with nothing to lose while the Idiot-in Chief is in office, it’s time to start putting our interests first.

(En español, aquí)

—

This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.

***