“Expect to see him defend American companies against Chinese competition and European regulation. » This warning about Donald Trump’s new mandate is signed Adam Kovacevich, president of the Chamber of Progress, an American lobby for digital giants founded in 2020. If the latter of course have an interest in attracting the support of the White House in their fight against Brussels, the election of Trump is a warning to be taken seriously for the European Union (EU). On digital regulation and AI, the Republican’s return puts pressure on Brussels.
A first front is taking shape with the appointment, Monday, November 18, of Brendan Carr as head of the telecommunications regulator FCC. “He’s a free speech warrior.”warned Mr. Trump. “We must dismantle the censorship cartel” in which “Facebook, Google, Apple, Microsoft others play a central role”, argued Mr. Carr, considering changing the law. He believes that the content moderation policies implemented by social networks, as well as the use of fact-checking organizations, are unfavorable to conservative opinions. However, this reasoning is exactly that held by Mr. Trump or Elon Musk, the owner of the social network X, currently in conflict with Brussels over the application of the Digital Services Act (DSA). This European regulation imposes on social networks obligations of means – and transparency – on the moderation of content.
Mr. Carr had already supported Mr. Musk in his standoff against Brazil, accused of having “attacked freedom of expression” et “acted illegally” by banning X for not having removed far-right accounts accused of spreading fake news. “If you want us to continue supporting NATO, why are you not respecting American values and freedom of speech? », had threatened Vice-President J. D. Vance against the EU at the end of September. This followed a warning from European Commissioner Thierry Breton for Mr Musk to respect the DSA on the eve of his interview with Mr Trump on disowned in Brussels.
An “opportunity”
Mr. Trump’s return to Washington comes at a time when Brussels is fiercely negotiating the implementation of several digital regulations: on the DSA therefore, but also on the Digital Markets Act regarding competition on platforms, the AI Act, on artificial intelligence (AI), and, always, the data protection regulation. Engaged in multiple disputes with the EU, the digital giants are putting pressure, like Meta which is at the origin of a petition stigmatizing “incoherent regulatory decisions” and a “rejection of progress”. Mr. Trump said in October that Tim Cook, Apple’s chairman and CEO, had complained to him about fines imposed by Brussels, warning: “I am not going to let the Europeans act to the detriment of our companies. »
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