What’s going on? A new chapter in transatlantic tension over tech policy❓
There’s hardly a day in the media without a report on the Trump administration. According to Reuters, the U.S. government is considering sanctions against EU officials responsible for implementing the Digital Services Act (DSA) – citing concerns over censorship and costs imposed on American tech firms. In parallel, President Trump has issued a public warning, threatening tariffs and export restrictions against countries with digital taxes or regulations deemed discriminatory.
🇪🇺 The EU, in turn, rejects these accusations as unfounded, emphasizing the DSA’s core goal: making digital spaces safer while safeguarding freedom of expression.
🇺🇸 The U.S. view: The DSA disproportionately affects American platforms and suppresses free speech – particularly conservative voices.
These differing views raise some questions:
– Where does legitimate regulation end and protectionism begin?
– Is the EU’s regulatory agenda – especially the Financial Data Access Regulation (FiDA) – unintentionally enabling global competitors at Europe’s expense?
📊 The FiDA aims to promote competition and innovation by giving third-party providers, including overseas Big Tech, broad access to personal financial data. Like the DSA, FiDA risks creating a framework marked by:
1. unclear consumer value - one might argue even very negative value for European consumers, if their data is sent around the globe without control.
2. high stranded costs with questionable ROI – money that European business would rather want to invest in innovation.
3. competitive distortions disadvantaging smaller EU firms and regulatory obligations that suppress – rather than enable – innovation.