Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has called on the U.S. government under President Donald Trump to intervene and prevent the European Union from penalizing American tech companies for antitrust violations.
Zuckerberg’s Appeal for Protection
In a statement reported by Politico, Zuckerberg highlighted the strategic advantage of the U.S. leading the global tech industry. He emphasized that protecting major U.S. companies like Meta should become a key aspect of America’s strategy moving forward, expressing optimism that this could be achieved with Trump’s support.
Over the past two decades, the EU has imposed fines exceeding $30 billion on American tech companies operating in Europe for violations of antitrust regulations. Last November, Meta was fined €797 million for allegedly enforcing unfair trading terms on advertisers.
Criticism of EU Regulations
Zuckerberg compared the EU’s competition rules to tariffs, arguing they disproportionately target U.S. companies. He criticized the outgoing Biden administration for failing to address the issue effectively, claiming that the U.S. government had, in some cases, led the charge against its own tech firms.
“If someone had treated another industry we care about in this way, the U.S. government would have likely applied pressure. Instead, the EU realized it could act without consequences,” said Zuckerberg.
Potential Shift Under Trump
With Trump expected to adopt a more business-friendly stance, Zuckerberg hopes for a collaborative approach to counter what he perceives as EU overreach. However, this could escalate tensions between the U.S. and Europe, as the EU continues to enforce its Digital Services Act and other regulations designed to maintain fair competition and protect user privacy.
