All posts tagged: Big Tech

As Trump’s tariffs are struck down, EU urges trade stability – POLITICO

As Trump’s tariffs are struck down, EU urges trade stability – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

BRUSSELS — The European Union called for stability in the transatlantic trade relationship after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs in a 6-3 ruling on Friday. “We remain in close contact with the U.S. Administration as we seek clarity on the steps they intend to take in response to this ruling,” European Commission Deputy Chief Spokesperson Olof Gill said in a statement. “Businesses on both sides of the Atlantic depend on stability and predictability in the trading relationship. We therefore continue to advocate for low tariffs and to work towards reducing them,” Gill added. Source link

Macron slams tech giants’ claim they are defending free speech – POLITICO

Macron slams tech giants’ claim they are defending free speech – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“All the algorithms have biases, we know that. There is no doubt,” he said. “And they are so impactful, when you speak about social media, that having no clue about how the algorithm is made, how it is tested and where it will guide you — the democratic biases of this could be huge.” Since returning to office in 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has cast Europe’s tech rules as a threat to America’s free speech tradition. While Brussels has spent the past decade designing legislation to rein in Big Tech through landmark laws like the GDPR, Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, Washington frames many of those efforts as incompatible with U.S. principles on free expression. That dispute has triggered a broader political clash, with U.S. officials and tech companies warning that Europe’s content moderation rules amount to censorship, while EU leaders insist the measures are necessary to curb illegal content and platform abuses. Macron has repeatedly called for restrictions on access to social media access for younger users, as a groundswell …

Personal data is the new battleground for democracy – POLITICO

Personal data is the new battleground for democracy – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Yes, wars are raging across continents, alliances are being tested, and tensions are escalating across borders and oceans. However, I would wager that if von Kleist-Schmenzin were alive today, he would agree that the most consequential struggle of our time may not be unfolding on traditional battlefields at all. Instead, it’s unfolding in the digital realm, where control over personal data — over our digital personhood — is the central source of power and influence in the modern world. When the World Wide Web was born, we were promised an era of democratic participation — a digital town square for a new millennium. What we have instead is something far darker: Predatory algorithms shredding civil society, warping truth and pitting neighbor against neighbor, while a handful of the world’s richest companies know more about us than any intelligence agency ever could. Deep down, we all feel the absolute grip of the Internet on society. We feel it at the national level, as polarization and misinformation continue to fray our social fabric, upend elections and disrupt …

EU Parliament reaches deal on US trade pact  – POLITICO

EU Parliament reaches deal on US trade pact  – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Among difficult items, lawmakers agreed to a clause mandating the European Commission to review the deal six months after its entry into force if the U.S. has not lowered tariffs to a 15 percent baseline level on EU products containing steel, instead of the current 50 percent. “If the United States is not reducing the tariffs for these products — more than 400 products — in six months, we will re-establish the tariffs for steel and steel relevant products inside the EU, automatically,” said Bernd Lange, a German Social Democrat who chairs the Parliament’s trade committee. Lawmakers also settled on a sunset clause that would put an effective expiry date of March 2028 on the trade deal — while Trump is still in office — meaning that Washington and Brussels would need to negotiate new terms.  A suspension clause that would void the deal, should Trump threaten Europe’s territorial integrity again, was already agreed prior to Tuesday’s meeting.  “Once the agreement is in place, the EU will also have a new tool to respond if we are …

EU capitals say deleting US tech is not realistic – POLITICO

EU capitals say deleting US tech is not realistic – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

In Estonia, the barrage of cyberattacks from Russia has helped it prepare for “literally whatever situation,” Digital Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta said. Estonia has forged a level of digital resilience that is widely praised. When it comes to where to go from here, “We are not looking for U.S. company dependencies but we are looking for any critical dependencies,” she said, noting that Estonia considers the threat of submarine internet cables being cut to be far more real than a U.S. tech shutdown. Betting on ‘open’ When it comes to finding alternatives to American majors, some of the tools that are gaining traction in Europe are open-source — meaning anyone can see, use and adapt the software, unlike proprietary tools whose code is confidential. “Like France, the Dutch government is researching autonomous communication tools for chats and video conferencing,” said outgoing State Secretary Eddie van Marum. Van Marum cited the trials of the French-developed platform Visio and a German alternative from Nextcloud, both of which are open-source. The German government is trying the openDesk platform, a …

The EU is in a political pressure cooker over its online rules – POLITICO

The EU is in a political pressure cooker over its online rules – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Missouri Republican Senator Eric Schmitt called for the use of Magnitsky sanctions, which are financial measures that can cause significant operational headaches including asset freezes and barring U.S. entities from trading with sanctioned entities.  While they are normally reserved for serious human rights violations like war crimes or the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Trump administration has already used them to go after another person deemed to be a modern agent of censorship.  In July, the Treasury and State departments announced Magnitsky sanctions against Brazilian Judge Alexandre de Moraes, including for suppressing “speech that is protected under the U.S. Constitution.”  De Moraes has drawn the same criticism as EU officials from the Trump administration and its allies, including Musk.  Counteraction The Commission also faces heat from the other side, with EU country leaders and European Parliament lawmakers demanding a more political response to the situation.  The EU’s tech rules have been a regular topic of debate at the Parliament’s plenary sessions, and several lawmakers have indicated the U.S. travel restrictions could be on …

Britain distances itself from Australia’s social media ban for kids – POLITICO

Britain distances itself from Australia’s social media ban for kids – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The U.K. has also upset the White House with its existing online safety measures, and the Trump administration said earlier this year it is monitoring freedom of speech concerns in the U.K. Australia is used to facing down the Big Tech lobby, explains Daniel Stone, who advised the ruling Labor Government on tech policy. “Julie has the benefit of knowing the [political] cabinet is fully supportive of her position,” he said. “It defines what’s permissible across the whole system.”  The social media account ban for under-16s is the latest in a line of Australian laws that have upset U.S. tech companies. | Justin Sullivan/Getty Images “If there is a lesson for the U.K., it is that you don’t have a strong regulator unless you have a strong political leader with a clear and consistent agenda,” Stone adds.  “Australia has its anxieties, too, about pushing U.S. tech companies, but they carry themselves with confidence,” said Stone. “You have to approach Trump from a position of strength.”  Rebecca Razavi, a former Australian diplomat, regulator and visiting fellow …