European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that the European Union will impose its digital rules on the largest global technology companies, regardless of their nationalities or the identities of their executives, in a clear message directed at companies like Meta, Apple, X, and TikTok.
Von der Leyen stated in remarks to Politico that 'the European Union applies laws fairly and transparently, and does not care who leads the company or where it is based; what matters to us is protecting people.'
She pointed out that opening investigations into these companies is part of the strict implementation of the Digital Markets Act, which has gradually begun to take effect since last year.
The European Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is strongly opposed by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, imposes strict rules on major technology companies such as Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft.
Its aim is to break the dominance of giant platforms, provide European users with broader choices, and ensure fair competition within the European Union's single market.
Last February, Trump signed an official memorandum confirming that his administration is closely monitoring the implementation of the European Digital Markets and Services Acts, considering that these laws 'dictate how American companies should deal with users in the European Union,' in a clear escalation of digital tensions between Washington and Brussels.
Practically, the European Commission's Vice President for Competition, Teresa Ribera, stated that a final decision on whether Apple and Meta have actually violated the Digital Markets Act will be issued in the coming weeks.
Informed sources indicate that the two companies may face 'moderate' fines, but they could set a legal precedent in the relationship between the European Union and American technology companies.
The new laws, which represent a turning point in European digital policy, no longer merely require companies to comply but also grant regulatory authorities in the Union broad powers to investigate, impose fines, and even dismantle certain activities in the event of repeated violations.
Dominance of major technology companies
In recent years, the European Union has intensified its efforts to limit the dominance of major technology companies based in the United States.
Through the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Union seeks to impose a regulatory model that balances innovation with competition and privacy protection.
This step represents the beginning of a new phase of organized confrontation between Brussels and Silicon Valley, a confrontation likely to escalate amid conflicting economic and sovereign interests of both parties.