The USA and EU are also at odds in the digital space, even though TV news barely covers it. This isn’t just about geopolitics and tariffs—it’s about who gets to set the rules in the digital world. On one side, the European Union has decided to challenge the web giants with the Digital Markets Act, a law that forces large platforms to promote greater competition and transparency, preventing them from locking users into their ecosystems. On the other side, the United States sees tech companies push back, with the government defending them by arguing that Europe is unfairly targeting American firms.
The Digital Markets Act imposes rules that directly affect giants like Google, Apple, and Meta. For example, Apple will have to allow app downloads outside its App Store, Google can no longer prioritize its own services in search results, and WhatsApp will be forced to make chats compatible with other messaging apps. Non-compliance could result in billions of dollars in fines.
In the USA, the strategy is completely different. Rather than setting broad regulations, they prefer to target individual companies with lawsuits. Google is accused of abusing its dominant position in online advertising, Amazon of anti-competitive practices, and Meta has also faced its own legal battles. The problem is that these same companies wield enormous political power in the US, and with some pushing for regulation and others viewing them as symbols of American strength, the debate is far from over.
In short, we’re witnessing a tug-of-war between two different models: Europe, which wants more rules, and the United States, which aims to protect its technological dominance. The result? A digital divide that isn’t just technological—it’s regulatory too. And we, caught in the middle, are left wondering whether all this will ultimately make the digital world a better place… or just more complicated.
