The European Union remains steadfast in its commitment to enforce digital regulations against major technology companies, irrespective of their leadership or geographical location, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has declared.
“That’s why we’ve opened cases against TikTok, X, Apple, Meta just to name a few. We apply the rules fairly, proportionally, and without bias. We don’t care where a company’s from and who’s running it. We care about protecting people,” von der Leyen told Politico on Sunday.
The comments come amid growing tensions with the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has strongly criticised the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). The legislation establishes a framework of rules for tech giants including Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Booking.com, ByteDance, Meta Platforms and Microsoft, aiming to ensure fair competition and expanded consumer choice.
In February, Trump signed a memorandum warning that his administration would scrutinise both the DMA and the Digital Services Act (DSA), which govern how American companies interact with European consumers.
The political pressure has raised concerns that Brussels might hesitate to enforce its digital rules to avoid antagonising the Trump administration, particularly during tense discussions about US trade tariffs targeting Europe.
Trump’s vice president JD Vance has been particularly vocal in criticising European digital regulations, arguing they restrict free speech and hamper innovation.
Two months before the US presidential election, Vance suggested the United States could withdraw from NATO if the EU enforced its platform rules. The EU has refuted Vance’s claims, and has said that the DSA’s goal is “to prevent illegal and harmful activities online and the spread of disinformation.”
The situation is particularly delicate regarding X, formerly Twitter, as its owner Elon Musk is a key stakeholder in the Trump administration. The European Commission is currently considering potential fines against X after concluding a probe in January.
EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera indicated two weeks ago that decisions on whether Apple and Meta have breached the landmark tech rules would be issued in the coming weeks. Sources told Reuters last month that both companies are expected to face modest fines for DMA violations.
Von der Leyen’s insistence that “the rules voted by our co-legislators must be enforced” signals the EU’s determination to maintain its regulatory stance despite international pressure.
