At the annual “Viva Technology” conference, which ended in Paris last Saturday, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton called on the US to adopt new technology rules. This call is mainly aimed at creating a coherent and harmonized digital market on both sides of the Atlantic, which will benefit businesses and consumers in both regions.
The European Union and the text majority
The European Union is widely recognized as a leading authority in technology regulation. She has implemented major legislation such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act. These laws aim to investigate and regulate the practices of large technology companies such as Google and Meta, to ensure fair competition and protect users.
In contrast, the US has mainly used existing legislation to regulate the practices of the tech giants. For example, in March, the Department of Justice filed an antitrust case against Apple, accusing the company of monopolistic practices. Apple, for its part, denied these allegations and requested dismissal of the lawsuits that were filed.
A call for harmonization
Thierry Breton emphasized the importance of harmonized digital rules between the EU and the US:
“We need the same digital regulation. It would be great to have a global digital marketplace. Not just the EU, not just the US, but the EU and the US. »
The EU commissioner also stressed the importance of this adaptation at a time when artificial intelligence systems are developing rapidly and pose potential risks. Last year, in response to these concerns, President Joe Biden issued several executive orders focused on artificial intelligence, requiring developers to submit their systems to security tests and establishing guidelines to combat fake deep images.
The need for transatlantic cooperation
Alongside these first proposals, Thierry Breton highlighted the values shared between the US and Europe.
This cooperation could not only improve the technological regulation, but also strengthen the competitiveness of companies from the two regions in the global market. In other words, harmonized regulation could facilitate innovation, protect consumers and guarantee fair competition.
The need for this harmonization is also reinforced by significant investments in the technology sector globally. For example, South Korea recently announced a $19 billion package for its chip companies, highlighting the strategic importance of this sector.
In addition to taking a political stance, Thierry Breton’s call for harmonized technological regulation between the EU and the US would represent a major step towards the creation of a coherent global digital market. This initiative could not only protect consumers and promote innovation, but also strengthen the competitive position of European and American companies. Close transatlantic cooperation is essential to navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies, including artificial intelligence.
