As Tech Giants Turn to Europe
Europe stands at the edge of a digital abyss. In a matter of days, U.S. tech giants disrupted the continent’s online landscape. Elon Musk, the billionaire behind X, has publicly attacked several European leaders and is now trying to influence Germany’s upcoming elections by promoting the far‑right party Alternative for Germany on his platform. Then Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg adopted Trump‑style rhetoric to argue against European content moderation and announced the ending of human content verification. This is a seismic shift for the European digital scene: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X. The foe appears vast and powerful, and Europe lacks a single dominant platform to counter it. Hundreds of millions of European users find their feeds steered by algorithms hosted in the United States. What can the European Union do to defend itself?
For the moment, Brussels has offered a cautious political response. The newly appointed High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, has not commented on Musk or Zuckerberg. Ursula von der Leyen is sidelined by pneumonia, and the weight of commentary has fallen on EU spokespeople who say Musk has the right to express his views and that changes will be assessed under the Digital Services Act with a close look at concrete actions. [EU sources, 2024]
Meta has informed the European Commission in writing of the proposed changes, as EU law requires, according to reports. The end of human verifiers affects the United States, so the EU is not moving under the DSA on this point. Yet the notification also warned that hate speech rules may be relaxed, a move that clashes with European regulation. Brussels is examining the potential risk to Europe’s digital ecosystem. [European Commission briefing, 2024]
Against X, an investigation has been open since December 2023 into possible breaches of the rules for operating in Europe. The focus is whether it complies with obligations to curb illegal content, whether the community notes system for flagging misinformation works, and whether paid verification could enable fake accounts and the spread of falsehoods prior to payment. [EU enforcement notice, 2023]
Now a team of over a hundred EU lawyers and technologists is reviewing hundreds of pages sent from the United States. There is no scheduled date for a ruling, which will be forwarded to EU decision‑makers. If X breaches the rules, it could face fines up to six percent of global profits. Will the EU go that far? [EU>Regulatory update, 2024]
Some observers believe action should have come sooner. The moment might have arrived before Musk reached the White House, or at least before a broader shift in strategy. Officials have started to set up a base on Bluesky, the leading alternative at the moment, with senior European figures joining in. Yet for now most officials remain on X, where political messages can go viral. [Policy analysis, 2024]
As Tech Giants Press Europe
“We will work with President Trump to oppose governments that target American companies and censor Americans,” Zuckerberg said in a video. “Europe has a growing set of laws that complicate innovation.”
The tone aligns with X and Trump’s public posture. The signs point to a confrontation between Washington and Brussels, a dynamic that has already seen penalties and restrictions on other players like Google and Microsoft in recent years. Analysts warn of a potential tariff conflict that could pit American policy against European products and those from other regions. [Industry briefing, 2024]
Legislation serves as a shield, yet many players remain in the game and suspicions of interference persist. An official probe into TikTok for electoral risks under the DSA has opened, tied to Romania’s presidential election held on September 24. The first round produced an unexpected pro‑Russia candidate, suspected of using foreign money to flood the network with political messages. The Romanian Supreme Court suspended the result in an unprecedented move based on intelligence input. Europe fortifies itself behind digital law. [Romania Gazette, 2024]
“We must protect our democracies from foreign interference,” von der Leyen asserted. “When interference is suspected, especially during elections, it must be stated clearly that all platforms are responsible for their actions.”
But influence is also seen at higher levels. Elon Musk, with more than 200 million followers, is one of the users the EU law requires to be watched closely.
The owner of X has publicly criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and urged him to step down. Scholz leads the Social Democrats and is a candidate in the upcoming national elections. Earlier this week Musk shared an interview with Alice Weidel, the leader of Alternative for Germany, whom Musk calls the country’s only real hope. The EU keeps a close eye on Musk’s activity, awaiting a decision on X that could redefine the digital landscape in Europe. [EU watchdog notes, 2024]