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The city of Brussels is reassessing investigations into tech groups including Apple, Meta and Google, just as US companies urge President-elect Donald Trump to intervene in what they see as EU enforcement overreach. .
Two officials briefed on the move said the review could lead to a reduction in the European Commission’s investigations or changes to its powers, which began under the EU’s digital market regulations since March last year. All incidents that have occurred will be covered.
The move comes as Brussels institutions begin a new five-year term and President Trump prepares to return to the White House next week amid mounting pressure over the handling of the landmark case.
“It’s going to be a whole new ball game because the tech oligarchs are so close to President Trump and are using that to put pressure on us,” said a senior EU diplomat briefed on the review. said. “There’s a lot up in the air right now.”
Officials said all decisions and potential fines will be suspended until the review is complete, but technical work on the case will continue.
Some of the studies under consideration are in their early stages, while others are more advanced. Indictments in the investigation into Google’s alleged app store preferential treatment were expected last year.
Two other EU officials said regulators in Brussels were currently awaiting political instructions to make a final decision on the Google, Apple and Meta cases.
The review comes as EU lawmakers urge the commission to maintain restraint in the face of U.S. pressure, while Silicon Valley leaders hail Trump’s return as the beginning of an era of tech deregulation. .
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg complained on Friday that EU regulators have forced him to pay “more than $30 billion” in fines over the past 20 years, and the U.S. tech company was arrested by the city of Brussels. asked the next president to suspend fines.
Zuckerberg recently announced plans to eliminate fact-checking on Facebook and Instagram, which could violate EU rules as the incoming Trump administration seeks to protect U.S. interests abroad. He said he was sure he thought so.
One of the officials said the impact of Trump’s presidency was a factor in the review, but insisted that Trump’s victory did not trigger the review.
The commission said it was “committed to the effective enforcement” of the rules. A Commission spokesperson said that the ongoing case was “not yet ready at a technical level” due to its complexity and novelty, as well as “the need to ensure that the Commission’s decisions are legally robust.” These investigations took time because of the need to do so.
Asked about the FT report on Tuesday, a spokesperson said: . . What we are doing is an upcoming meeting to assess the general readiness of the investigation. No decisions have yet been made in any of these cases. ”
Before Trump’s victory, EU regulators pursued aggressive action against the world’s largest groups of technology companies, passing a series of reforms aimed at opening up markets and setting up a regulatory framework for Big Tech.
Brussels launched an investigation into Apple, Google and Meta in March last year under the Digital Markets Act, which aims to curb market abuse by big platforms.
The commission will also maximize the powers of the Digital Services Act, a set of rules aimed at policing online content, to curb tech billionaire Elon Musk’s growing influence in European affairs. We are under pressure to use it more effectively.
In addition to a similar investigation into Google owner Alphabet, the committee will also look into whether Apple favored its own app store and Facebook owner Meta’s use of personal data for advertising purposes. are.
Brussels is also in talks with Apple’s rivals over a technology group’s proposal to make its iOS operating system compatible with connected devices.
Denmark’s Margrethe Vestager and France’s Thierry Breton, who took tough stances against American tech companies, resigned from the committee in November.
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“Priorities may be changing,” said one person. “(The digital rules) came from the previous committee.”
“There may be political realities (in the United States) that put pressure on technical work,” the commission’s chief spokesperson said on Tuesday. . . We will consider and evaluate the new (Trump) administration’s concrete measures and actions. ”
EU lawmakers are calling on regulators to take firm action. European Parliament member Stéphanie Yon-Kultin, who helped draft the technology rules, said EU investigations could not be sacrificed to avoid diplomatic fallout.
In a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Commissioner Jon Kurtin said the DMA “cannot be held hostage”.
He added: “Please be assured that the Cabinet and yourself fully support the effective implementation of the DMA without further delay.”
