The European Commission has been cracking down on tech giants from overseas for a long time. Apple, Google, Meta, all have received or been threatened with huge fines for violating EU digital regulations. Breaking up monopolies has been going smoothly so far, for example in the case of the USB-C connector in the iPhone. However, Donald Trump changed everything, and the European Commission, although making serious faces at him, is nevertheless afraid of him.
Next week, the European Commission is to fine Apple and Meta, the owner of Facebook, under the Digital Markets Act. In the case of the former, it is about monopolistic practices and making it difficult for app creators to direct consumers to cheaper offers outside the AppStore, where the Cupertino giant collects a heavy commission for each transaction carried out via the Apple platform.
In the case of Facebook and Meta, the EC’s concerns focus on the “consent or pay” system, which forces users to choose between having their activities tracked or paying for an ad-free version of the services.
According to the EU DMA regulations, fines for this type of, to put it mildly, infringements can reach up to 10 percent of global revenues, which in the case of giants such as Apple or Meta means multi-billion sums in fines alone, and later, as a result, also market reactions.
The EU, instead of giving a slap, will just wave its finger
As reported by the Financial Times, both Apple and Meta will be punished, but Brussels will decide on much milder sanctions. The Commission is aware, first of all, that the regulations are relatively new and that the tech giants may try to challenge the decisions in court, but above all, it is afraid of the US reaction and does not want to lead to an open conflict with the new administration.
Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized the imposition of penalties on big tech, calling it a “form of taxation” and “foreign extortion,” and has also directly threatened retaliation in the event of further “harassment” of American companies. The president was also referring to the much-discussed digital tax. In this regard, the future US ambassador to our country made it clear that “Trump will retaliate” if Poland decides to impose a new levy.
Not very smart! A self destructive tax that will only hurt Poland and its relations w/USA. President Trump will reciprocate as well as he should. Rescind the tax to avoid the consequences! https://t.co/rtGHk4i4HT
— Tom Rose (@TomRoseIndy) March 10, 2025
The discord between the United States and the Old Continent is already visible not only at the level of US-European Union relations, but, in line with Washington's tactics, which are based on breaking up the community, it is also beginning to be visible at the level of bilateral relations between America and individual EU countries.
Digital Affairs Minister Responds to New US Ambassador: We Have No Intention to Withdraw from Digital Tax Work
The Ministry of Digital Affairs (MC) does not intend to withdraw from work on preparing the digital tax – assured Deputy Prime Minister, head of the ministry Krzysztof Gawkowski on Tuesday. The Ministry of Finance informed that the ministry is not currently working on the digital tax.
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Nevertheless, the tariff war initiated by Trump, while devastating many businesses and, above all, destroying trust and transatlantic relations, is proving effective in one respect. Tech oligarchs are benefiting from the politics of chaos and the fact that the EC does not want to irritate the unpredictable Donald Trump. It is no wonder that Silicon Valley is so close to the White House today.
AO.
