Summary of EU-US Tech Tensions: A Breakdown
This article details growing tensions between โฃteh European Union and the United โStates regarding digital โregulation and technological dominance. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
1.โค Digital Networks โฃAct Stalled:
*โ The EU’s aspiring Digital Networks โคAct, intended to create a unified telecom market, is facing significant delays.
* Disagreements among member โคstates,notably Germany,are hindering progress. Key sticking points include:
* Copper Network Shutdown: โคGermany opposes the proposedโข 2030 deadline.
โข * โ BEREC Strengthening: National authorities resist strengthening the European regulatory authority, fearing loss of power.
* The Act is โฃlosing key components likeโ net neutrality revisions and โinitiatives to rebalance power between telecoms andโ Big Tech.
2. US Opposition to the EU space Act:
* the US hasโฃ formally objected to the EU Space Act, arguing it restricts โAmerican companies and violates trade agreements.
* The US State โDepartment demands โขrevisions to allow for smoother cooperation and avoid potential retaliation.
3. Resistance to DSA & DMA:
* American tech giants (Apple, Google) are actively appealing โandโค criticizing the EU’s Digitalโฃ Services Act (DSA)โ and Digital Markets act (DMA), causing delays in implementation.
* The US Federal Trade Commission has raised concernsโ about potential conflicts between DSA rules and American laws regarding freedom of expression and security.
4. Spectrum Battle – Wi-Fi vs. Mobile:
* The US State Department lobbied on behalf ofโ American Wi-Fi companies (Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, Qualcomm) to protect a specific band of the mobile spectrum (upper 6 โGHz band) for Wi-Fi use.
* The EU’s Radio โขSpectrum Policy Group (RSPG) proposed a compromise favoring mobile operators.
* While some EU countriesโฃ sided with mobile operators,the final decision rests withโค the European Commission.
Overall Theme: โ The article paintsโ a picture of increasing friction โขas โthe EU attempts โto assert its digital sovereignty and regulate Big Tech, while the US actively resists measures perceivedโฃ as hindering โAmerican companies and interests. The EU’s ambitious digital agenda is โขfacing significant headwinds, andโค the potential for trade disputes and further conflict is growing.
