US tech regulation

Trump’s “Respect” Demands Spark Meltdown, Threatens Countries

Former President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to countries imposing digital taxes on U.S. tech companies, threatening substantial new tariffs and blocked chip exports. He views these digital service taxes as discriminatory and harmful to American technology, particularly targeting companies like Apple, Google, and Meta. Trump’s statement, made on Truth Social, puts countries on notice, stating that if these taxes are not removed, there will be consequences. This issue has previously led to trade tensions, as seen when Canada rescinded its plans for a digital tax to avoid potential tariffs from the U.S.

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Zuckerberg’s Plea to Trump: Stop EU Fines on US Tech

Over the past two decades, EU penalties against U.S. tech companies, totaling over $30 billion, have prompted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to criticize the European Commission’s application of competition rules as akin to a tariff on American businesses. Zuckerberg contends that the U.S. government failed to adequately address this issue, leaving American tech companies vulnerable to EU actions. This criticism follows Meta’s recent €797 million fine for antitrust violations and coincides with the company’s termination of its third-party fact-checking program and DEI initiatives, moves perceived as aligning with a shifting political climate in the U.S. These actions reflect a changing legal and policy landscape impacting Meta’s operations in Europe.

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