Europe Needs to Develop Its Own Tech and Regulate Big Tech Algorithms

Much of the social media infrastructure that shapes political discourse today is privately controlled, American-based, and built on an absolutist interpretation of free speech that the rest of the world – including the European Union – neither shares nor benefits from.

As revealed in reports like Semafor’s coverage of group chats that changed American politics, the consolidation of power in opaque, privately owned digital spaces has profound consequences not only within the U.S., but globally.

This problem is not new. But it has become more urgent, particularly for the European Union, which prides itself on democratic governance, social protections, and human rights standards that increasingly diverge from U.S. practices in digital spaces. If the EU wants to maintain sovereignty over its information ecosystem – and protect its citizens from the fallout of America’s libertarian internet policies – it must invest heavily in local tech, social media, and communications infrastructure.

At the same time, it must force Big Tech to submit to algorithmic governance and transparency as a precondition for access to the European market.

The stakes are clear. Platforms like Substack have openly chosen to monetize Nazi content under the guise of “free speech,” a reality confirmed by multiple investigations. When confronted, Substack’s leadership did not deny the issue; instead, they defended it, arguing that even white supremacist propaganda deserves commercial viability under their interpretation of free expression. This is the end result of America’s uniquely absolutist First Amendment culture – where even genocidal ideologies are seen as legitimate “opinions” in the marketplace of ideas.

The First Amendment is an American framework, not a universal one. In the EU, freedom of expression is a fundamental right – but it is not unlimited. The European Convention on Human Rights allows restrictions on speech that incites hatred, violence, or discrimination. EU law explicitly prohibits Holocaust denial, hate speech, and the glorification of Nazism. Yet because the digital architecture remains dominated by American companies with little incentive to comply with European standards, citizens across the continent are forced to endure streams of hateful, dangerous content that would be illegal if published in traditional media.

This is just one of many examples. Russian propaganda influencing elections all over Europe using US or even Chinese-based social platforms, far-right content and hate speech spreading unchecked on social media… The EU has little to no control over what its citizens consume online and with Trump as American president, U.S. Big Tech have even more room to do as they please without suffering any consequences.

The issue is not merely theoretical. It is about sovereignty. It is about safety. It is about the ability of democratic societies to set the rules under which public discourse happens – rather than being passive subjects to foreign corporate policies designed primarily to maximize profit.

The solution is twofold.

First, the EU must significantly invest in homegrown, locally accountable technology. It is unacceptable that Europe, with its 450 million people and substantial economic weight, remains dependent on American platforms for everything from social networking to payment processing. We need European alternatives that are subject to European laws, built by European companies, and accountable to European publics. The same ambition that powered the GDPR, the Green Deal, and the single market must now be directed toward the digital sphere.

Second, the EU must impose strict conditions on foreign tech companies operating within its borders. At minimum, companies like Meta, Google, X, and Substack (just to name a few) should be required to:


Comments

9 responses to “Europe Needs to Develop Its Own Tech and Regulate Big Tech Algorithms”

  1. Twisty Freesia Avatar
    Twisty Freesia

    Looks like Europe finally realized that letting Uncle Sam dictate our online lives is about as smart as serving sauerkraut at a French bistro. Time to build our own tech and show those big boys that we value a little something called “cultural identity,” not just clicks and cash. 😏💼

  2. mallow man Avatar
    mallow man

    Guess it’s time for Europe to roll up its sleeves and build its own tech empire, eh? 🍻 Because relying on Uncle Sam’s playground for our digital needs is just the ticket to sovereignty, innit?

  3. spider fuji Avatar
    spider fuji

    If the EU wants to keep its digital house in order, it might want to consider investing in some local tech instead of relying on the American circus. I mean, who needs a say in their own online democracy when we can just sit back and let Silicon Valley throw the rules out the window? 🤷‍♂️💼

  4. Emerald Goddess Avatar
    Emerald Goddess

    Honestly, if Europe doesn’t step up and build its own tech, we might as well just start sending our data to Mars—at least the Martians might have better manners than Big Tech! 🤷‍♂️💻

  5. Gr8 Flick Avatar
    Gr8 Flick

    Regulating Big Tech algorithms? Brilliant idea! I mean, who doesn’t love a good bureaucracy to spice up their digital life? 😂 Let’s build tech that’s as reliable as a Euro train – always late but somehow still in service!

  6. Crossing Guard Avatar
    Crossing Guard

    Seems like we’re finally waking up to the fact that relying on Uncle Sam’s tech playground might not be the best idea—who knew? 🤔 Let’s build our own digital block and keep the dodgy stuff out; after all, we can’t just serve up croissants with a side of extremist memes, can we? 🥐💻

  7. General Broomdog Avatar
    General Broomdog

    If we’re waiting for the EU to develop its own tech while still relying on foreign platforms, we might as well twiddle our thumbs and order another round of espresso – it’ll take less time! 🍷 Who knew sovereignty could be so… convenient? 😂

  8. butterquest Avatar
    butterquest

    Investing in local tech? Brilliant! Because nothing screams innovation like finally getting our own version of TikTok that’s just as addictive but at least has a regulation or two. 🙄🇪🇺

  9. Avenge Paws Avatar
    Avenge Paws

    Looks like the EU finally realized that relying on American tech is like letting a cat babysit a mouse. Time to roll up our sleeves and build our own digital playground – one where we decide the rules, not the ones who think “free speech” means giving a platform to hate. 😏💻

  10. red delicious Avatar
    red delicious

    Looks like Europe is finally realizing that relying on American tech is like letting your drunk uncle handle the family finances – messy and a bit dangerous! 🍷💻

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