Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s top antitrust regulator, has reflected on her decade-long battle against big tech companies and what comes next. Vestager, who steps down late this month, credits her efforts with making Europe a pioneer in regulating the tech industry.
During her tenure, Vestager aggressively brought cases and fines against Google, Apple, Amazon, and others for conducting illegal business practices and trying to block competition. Despite backlash from tech leaders, including President Donald J. Trump, who reportedly called her “really hates” America, Vestager’s efforts have led to increased regulation worldwide.
U.S. regulators have followed Europe by bringing antitrust lawsuits against Google, Apple, Meta, and Amazon. Regulators in South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Canada, and elsewhere are also taking on tech giants. The European Union’s Digital Services Act has given authorities critical new powers to regulate social media platforms.
Vestager praised the Biden administration’s more aggressive approach to antitrust oversight and said that collaboration with U.S. regulators could change under Trump. She also discussed the online abuse she and other women faced, saying that restricting certain forms of speech online is “totally acceptable” even if it draws criticism from Elon Musk or others.
As Vestager prepares to take a role at a university in Denmark, her successor Teresa Ribera RodrÃguez will take over as top antitrust regulator. While some critics say Vestager’s efforts have been only “partly successful,” she remains committed to pushing regulators to be bolder and urges them to prioritize deterrence.
Vestager’s legacy will likely shape the future of tech regulation, with many watching how her successor approaches the challenges posed by big tech companies.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/26/technology/margrethe-vestager-eu-antitrust.html