EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager is scheduled to meet with CEOs of major American Big Tech companies, including Apple, Alphabet, Broadcom, and Nvidia, during her visit to the United States. These discussions, occurring one month after Vestager resumed her role following an unsuccessful bid for the European Investment Bank, focus on European digital regulation and competition policy.
Notably, Vestager’s meetings with Apple and Alphabet coincide with significant antitrust developments, such as Apple’s offer to allow competitors access to its mobile payment systems and Alphabet’s appeal against a $2.6 billion EU antitrust fine related to its shopping service.
Why it matters: The meetings are crucial as they signify Vestager’s renewed focus on stringent antitrust measures and regulatory policies, impacting major tech companies operating in Europe.
- Vestager’s meetings include discussions with CEOs of Broadcom and Nvidia, underscoring her comprehensive approach to addressing competition policy and digital regulation beyond the more widely recognized tech giants like Apple and Alphabet.
- The European Commission also charged Google with abusing its dominance in online advertising, leading Vestager to suggest a potential breakup of Google’s ad business. Google, however, opposes this proposal, arguing against divestment as a proportionate solution.
- The establishment of the Coalition for Open Digital Ecosystems (CODE) by Google and other tech firms in response to regulatory changes, including the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), reflects a collective effort to promote open platforms and systems.
Go Deeper –> EU’s Vestager to meet Big Tech CEOs in the US next week – Reuters
Big Techs to Meet EU Antitrust Chief in the US – CIO Insider
