Europe Cannot Wait to Fight Trump’s Assault on Democracy --

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Trump's latest threat conveys three messages that Europe and the world should pay close attention to. First: It is evident that Trump is not a reliable partner when it comes to trade deals. No amount of flattery or appeasement will guarantee a favorable outcome in the long term. Secondly, US-based tech companies are exerting significant pressure on the US government to ensure that their interests are prioritized. Thirdly, Trump's objective—which is aligned with the interests of certain US technology companies—is to implement regime change in Europe.

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Europe has three options to protect global democracy.

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[First] ... It is essential to enforce DSA and DMA in a meaningful and effective manner. It is necessary to clarify how virtually all platforms utilize algorithms to amplify outrage, anger, and fear, overriding users‘ explicit content choices. Those emotions serve to perpetuate the dissemination of disinformation and undermine trust in science, media, and governments.

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[Second] ... Establish strong relationships with those nations that share [Europe's] commitment to freedom. Should Europe assume a leadership role and establish a coalition with [...] numerous other nations to promote democratic principles in the digital age, it would significantly diminish President Trump's ability to wield influence through blackmail [...] Most importantly: The formation of a [...] coalition of countries [...]that don‘t accept the global rule of US or Chinese big tech companies. This coalition would cooperate and exchange on enforcing democratic legislation on technology companies.

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[Third] ... Build a European sovereign digital infrastructure. Now. Europe’s dependency on US technology is extremely concerning. From data centers and undersea cables to software, AI, and social media—Europe needs to build a complete stack (the Eurostack), and it needs to do it fast.

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It won’t be easy. Traditional industries, such as the automotive industry, are pushing for deals with the US administration at all costs. But the digital sector is no longer a ‘sector’ that can be neglected to help other industries. It’s the core of democracy and the core of the economy. Democracy will not survive if the tech oligarchs want it dead. And the European economy won’t survive without control over the digital products, services, and infrastructure that underpin all modern manufacturing and services. The sooner Europe wakes up, the better its chances of preserving democracy.