A top EU official maintains a firm stance on regulating Big Tech, stating a "very clear legal basis" for such measures.

• As President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, there are increasing concerns about how the EU will enforce technology regulation.
• Virkkunen stated that Europe has a clear legal basis and regulation rules for tech, and they are strictly enforcing those rules.
• The Digital Services Act (DSA), which took effect in 2024, empowers EU institutions to regulate Big Tech and combat illegal and harmful online activities, as well as disinformation.

An EU official has stated that there is a clear legal basis for regulators to take a tougher stance on Big Tech, and that ongoing investigations into companies like Facebook and Google support this stance.

The EU is reevaluating its investigations into Facebook and Meta, which may result in the European Commission modifying or reducing the scope of their probes.

On Thursday, Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission's executive vice president for tech sovereignty, responded to CNBC.

"The Digital Service Act, which was enacted over a year ago, is currently being subjected to formal proceedings against major platforms such as Meta, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok," Virkkunen stated.

"We are continuing our work and conducting investigations to determine if they comply with our rules," she stated.

The Digital Services Act (DSA), which took effect in 2024, empowers EU institutions to regulate Big Tech and combat illegal and harmful online activities, as well as disinformation.

Although the EU has gained new powers, there are increasing concerns about how the rules will be enforced, particularly following the return of President-elect Donald Trump to the White House.

The EU's response to ongoing investigations is uncertain, but it's clear that U.S. tech companies will use the Trump administration to challenge EU regulations.

Next week, Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Zuckerberg will attend Trump's inauguration, as the tech industry tries to curry favor with the president ahead of his second term.

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, urged the incoming U.S. president to examine the EU's approach to Big Tech, stating that the bloc's application of competition rules is "almost like a tariff" last week.

Virkkunen, an EU official, is part of a new team of politicians who started working in the EU's executive arm in December. The bloc has been known for its leadership in tech regulation and has allowed several investigations into the actions of Big Tech companies.

Virkkunen stated that Europe has a clear legal basis and regulation rules, and they are strictly enforcing them.

Instead of stating whether she felt pressured due to Trump's return to the White House, Virkkunen emphasized that all companies, regardless of their origin, must adhere to the EU's regulations.

Investigating X

The European Commission is evaluating whether Musk's X violated transparency requirements and its responsibilities to combat illegal content in December 2023, as it was the first probe under the Digital Services Act.

The institution was evaluating specific areas related to risk management, content moderation, dark patterns, advertising transparency, and data access for researchers at the time.

The European Commission is considering whether to include Musk's live discussion with AfD party leader Alice Weidel in their investigation.

"This isn't about Elon Musk; it's about X," Virkkunen stated.

The European commission is currently investigating X for their responsibilities in assessing and mitigating risks related to their online platform, including what they post regarding electoral processes and civic discourse. However, she emphasized that they are always monitoring for any new developments.