Technology

The EU has fallen behind the US and Asia in recent decades in important digital technologies: semiconductor manufacturing has shifted to east Asia and Europe lacks any consumer-facing firms with the scale of America’s digital monoliths. The EU sees this as a risk to Europe’s autonomy, security and commitment to competitive markets. Its regulatory proposals and public investments are increasingly aimed at curbing the power of US tech giants while securing European leadership in emerging technologies. But China and the US also want sovereignty over how technology is regulated in their own jurisdictions and to control global technology standards. This poses threats to Europe’s existing digital successes and its prospects for regaining technological leadership.

How the Digital Markets Act will challenge consumers

Zach Meyers
24 January 2022
The European Parliament’s proposals to tame big tech will challenge consumers. Some of these proposals will promote innovation – but law-makers should drop proposals which will stifle it.

No pain, no gain? The Digital Markets Act

Zach Meyers
10 January 2022
The EU's upcoming rules for big tech will degrade some digital services to improve long-term competition and innovation. The trade-off is justified – but law-makers must keep consumers on-side.

Leave your phone at home: Why EU roaming charges will only increase for UK consumers

Zach Meyers
20 September 2021
Will the end of free EU roaming make the UK mobile market fairer, as some economists claim? Don’t bet on it.

Driving uncertainty: Labour rights in the gig economy

Zach Meyers
10 August 2021
The European Commission should treat competition policy as a tool to improve the rights of ‘gig economy’ workers – not a hindrance to that goal.

Reality bytes: The limits of transatlantic digital co-operation

Zach Meyers
13 July 2021
The EU and the US plan to boost co-operation on digital policy. They should not prioritise regulatory harmonisation, and instead work on areas where mutual compromise is more realistic.

Can the EU set a global rulebook for Big Tech?

Zach Meyers
01 June 2021
The EU is angling to set a rulebook for digital markets which could be adopted around the world. To achieve this, its draft regulations need improvement.

Taming 'Big Tech': How the Digital Markets Act should identify gatekeepers

Zach Meyers
04 May 2021
The European Commission is rushing to impose new rules on large digital platforms. A more careful approach would benefit European digital businesses.

The US proposals on digital services taxes and minimum tax rates: How the EU should respond

Zach Meyers
15 April 2021
OECD members are negotiating a global digital services tax and a global minimum corporate tax. EU member-states should support recent US proposals to conclude the talks.

Post-Brexit data transfers are not a done deal

Sam Lowe, Camino Mortera-Martinez
29 March 2021
Data transfers are essential for both trade and security co-operation. The EU and the UK should not let minor differences obscure the fact that they have more in common than divides them. 

Should the EU develop 'European champions' to fend off Chinese competition?

John Springford
05 March 2020
China is distorting world trade through its aggressive industrial policy. But fostering ‘European champions’ in order to compete is premature – and risky.

Pages