EU revisits antitrust scrutiny on Apple, Google, and Meta

14 Jan 2025

EU revisits antitrust scrutiny on Apple, Google, and Meta
Image source: Dweider, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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In what could become a dramatic turnaround, the European Union is reevaluating its scrutiny of tech behemoths, including Apple, Meta, and Google. This is a reaction to mounting calls from American conglomerates urging President-elect Donald Trump to curb what they view as excessive EU regulatory oversight. 

A comprehensive reassessment may result in the EC narrowing or recalibrating its ongoing investigations, it is said.

The reevaluation, encompassing cases initiated under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) since March of last year, unfolds as the Commission begins a fresh five-year mandate. It also coincides with Trump’s imminent inauguration, a development that has emboldened the Silicon Valley titans. 

“The dynamics are shifting dramatically with these tech magnates leveraging their proximity to Trump to influence proceedings,” remarked a senior EU diplomat aware of the discussions. “Everything hangs in a delicate balance at the moment.”

While decisions and potential penalties remain suspended pending the review’s conclusion, officials have confirmed that technical investigations will persist uninterrupted. Certain inquiries, such as Google’s alleged preferential treatment of its app store, had progressed significantly, with formal accusations expected last year. 

Meanwhile, cases involving Apple’s App Store policies and Meta’s data practices also await high-level political guidance before final determinations are made.

Brussels caught in a geopolitical tug-of-war

Amid these shifting sands, EU legislators have urged the Commission to resist external pressure and uphold regulatory integrity. Conversely, Silicon Valley luminaries have heralded Trump’s presidency as a harbinger of lenient oversight. 

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, speaking last Friday, implored Trump to shield American tech firms from what he termed excessive European fines. He cited penalties exceeding $30 billion imposed over two decades as evidence of what he sees as punitive enforcement.

Zuckerberg’s announcement of plans to abolish fact-checking on Meta platforms—potentially clashing with EU digital content rules—further underscores his confidence in Trump’s protection of U.S. corporate interests abroad. One EU official acknowledged that Trump’s presidency factored into the review process but denied it was the primary catalyst.

Despite these tensions, a Commission spokesperson emphasized its unwavering commitment to enforcing digital market regulations. “There are no delays in finalizing ongoing compliance cases, nor are decisions influenced by political considerations,” the spokesperson asserted, citing the technical complexity and innovative nature of such cases as reasons for their deliberate pace.

Rising stakes under the Digital Markets Act

Before Trump’s election victory, Brussels had pursued an assertive stance against global tech giants, enacting a suite of reforms aimed at dismantling monopolistic practices. The Digital Markets Act, a cornerstone regulation targeting market distortions by dominant platforms, underpinned the March 2023 investigations into Apple, Meta, and Google.

The EU has also faced calls to wield the Digital Services Act more aggressively, particularly against the influence of Elon Musk, whose growing entanglements in European affairs have drawn scrutiny. The Commission is simultaneously exploring whether Apple’s proposed adjustments to its iOS ecosystem sufficiently accommodate interoperability with third-party devices.

However, with stalwart regulators like Denmark’s Margrethe Vestager and France’s Thierry Breton no longer at the helm, questions about continuity abound. “Priorities seem to be shifting,” observed an insider. “These digital frameworks were conceived by the previous administration.”

In a fervent appeal to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Member of the European Parliament Stephanie Yon-Courtin stressed the importance of steadfast enforcement. “The DMA cannot become a bargaining chip,” she wrote, urging the leadership to champion its robust implementation without delay.

As Brussels navigates this fraught landscape, the balancing act between regulatory rigor and diplomatic pragmatism grows increasingly precarious. With Trump’s presidency poised to reshape global tech policy, the EU faces an arduous challenge in safeguarding its regulatory sovereignty.

 

FAQs about the EU's reassessment of tech probes into Apple, Google, and Meta

1. What is the EU currently reassessing?

The European Union is reevaluating its investigations into major tech companies, including Apple, Google, and Meta. This review encompasses all cases initiated under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) since March of the previous year.

2. Why is the EU conducting this review?

The review aims to address mounting pressure regarding how these landmark cases have been managed. It coincides with the start of a new five-year term for the European Commission and the anticipated return of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, which has implications for international tech regulations.

3. Will the investigations into these tech companies be paused?

While decisions and potential fines will be on hold during the review, technical work on the cases will continue.

4. What are the investigations focusing on?

The EU is examining several issues, such as:

  • Whether Apple unfairly favored its App Store.
  • Whether Google gave preferential treatment to its app store.
  • Meta’s use of personal data for advertising purposes.

5. Has the EU faced criticism over its tech regulation?

Yes, U.S.-based tech companies, including Meta, have criticized the EU for imposing heavy fines on them. Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, claimed that EU regulators have fined U.S. tech firms over $30 billion in the last two decades.

6. How does Donald Trump’s presidency influence the review?

While EU officials insist Trump’s victory did not directly trigger the reassessment, his return to power is seen as a factor. His administration is expected to advocate for lighter tech regulations, potentially putting pressure on the EU.

7. What is the Digital Markets Act (DMA)?

The DMA is a set of EU rules designed to curb anti-competitive behavior by large tech platforms. It seeks to open markets and regulate the dominance of big tech companies.

8. What does the EU say about political considerations in this review?

The European Commission stated it remains committed to enforcing its rules effectively, denying that political considerations or Trump’s presidency have caused delays in ongoing investigations.

9. What is the role of EU lawmakers in this situation?

Some EU lawmakers, including Stephanie Yon-Courtin, have urged the commission to maintain its stance and not compromise its investigations to avoid diplomatic fallout.

10. What other challenges are these tech companies facing in Europe?

In addition to investigations under the DMA, the EU is exploring Apple’s proposals to make iOS compatible with connected devices and assessing Elon Musk’s influence in European affairs under the Digital Services Act.

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