Today, 23 April 2025, the European Commission fined Meta and Apple for breaching EU law. After months of investigation and fruitless dialogue, the tech firms now have 60 days to comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. Defend Democracy comments:
“It is great that the European Union is leading the governance of digital technologies and is making an effort at protecting our democracy and our consumers. However, while Defend Democracy welcomes this first step in enforcing the EU’s new digital laws, the delay and relatively moderate fines are disappointing. We had hoped for a stronger enforcement, giving a clear message that our Europe, our democracy and our security are not for sale. We call for swifter and stronger enforcement of EU law, to secure a level playing field and to protect our consumers and citizens, our democracy and security.
Last week, President Von der Leyen said that in Europe “we don’t have [tech]bros or oligarchs making the rules.” Actually, we do have them: American tech bros with their huge lobby budgets — now backed by political pressure and outright threats from the Trump/Vance/Musk regime — have delayed and watered down EU digital laws for decades. Big Tech have done everything to skirt the rules; it is now high time to hold their feet to the fire.
This decision is as much about the tech firms as a test of the political will of the European Commission in protecting our digital sovereignty. As Defend Democracy said last week at our #HandOFF Our Democracy protest: “Since at least 2014 we are watching a coup against democracy unfold. It is the combination of hybrid warfare, rise of the far-right, and tech coup. [..] Trump, Putin and techbros like Musk are teaming up to destroy not only American democracy, but also ours. [..] How long can Europe hold the line if we don’t take defending our democracy as serious as defending our territory?”
We need even more courage and robust enforcement of European laws. The world is watching — and so is Defend Democracy.”
Defend Democracy, 23 April 2025 | image © Yuru Herasimenka