The EU claims to have the “sovereign right” to regulate tech, after threats from Trump
Brussels – “It is the sovereign right of the EU and its member states to regulate economic activities on our territory in accordance with our democratic values,” said European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho on Tuesday.
Brussels also “firmly rejected” the accusation that American companies were deliberately targeted by these digital rules.
The American president vigorously attacked on Monday countries or organizations regulating the tech sector, threatening them with tariffs and export restrictions.
The Commission also described the accusations of censorship made by the Trump administration and tech giants as “totally erroneous.”
For its part, the British government defended on Tuesday the “fair and proportionate” approach of its 2% digital services tax (DST), in a statement requested by AFP. The set thresholds mean that in practice the vast majority of the generated revenue comes, according to the British press, from American giants such as Amazon, Google, Apple, or Meta. (August 26, 2025)
